New Bill Would Provide Greater Protections for Older Employees

New Bill Would Provide Greater Protections for Older Employees

The U.S. House of Representatives recently introduced a bill that aims to bolster protections against age-related workplace discrimination. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act of 2023 (POWADA) would amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) to foster a more equitable and age-inclusive work environment. The bill would re-establish the traditional burden of proof standard for age discrimination claims in the workplace.  The ADEA prohibits discriminatory practices throughout the employment process, from hiring and

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EEOC Releases New Resource for Incorporating AI & Automated Systems into Employment Decisions

EEOC Releases New Resource for Incorporating AI & Automated Systems into Employment Decisions

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has published a comprehensive technical assistance document to address the growing concern of discrimination against job seekers and workers in relation to the use of automated systems, including those incorporating artificial intelligence, by employers. The EEOC, as the primary federal agency responsible for enforcing Title VII, seeks to ensure that these technologies align with civil rights laws and promote fairness, justice, and equality. The new publication, Assessing Adverse Impact

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Federal Agencies Announce Inter-Agency Commitment to Protect Employees & Consumers from AI Discrimination

Federal Agencies Announce Inter-Agency Commitment to Protect Employees & Consumers from AI Discrimination

A group of federal agencies recently announced a joint inter-agency commitment to enforcing civil rights and consumer protections as they apply to the quickly emerging AI technologies in the workplace.  On April 25, 2023, The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) held a joint press conference to recognize the growing use of AI in employment decision-making and

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New Pregnant Employee Law Expands Accommodation Protections

New Pregnant Employee Law Expands Accommodation Protections

A new federal law expands the rights of pregnant employees in obtaining accommodations. Under the new law, employers must grant reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees, even if the employee is not disabled as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Employers will be required to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant employees and applicants with temporary physical or mental limitations due to pregnancy, childbirth or related concerns, according to the Pregnant Worker Fairness Act that goes

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New FTC Rule Would Ban Noncompete Agreements

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has broken new ground today in proposing a rule that could significantly impact employees across all industries and professions. This proposed rule prohibits employers from enforcing noncompetes on any employee or independent contractor, paid or unpaid. This prohibition could be a game changer for how employees transition to a new job at a different company within their industry. In many industries, including those in the technology field, those in sales-related

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Federal Agency Branch Chief Wins EEOC Hearing

A Federal agency branch chief represented by Natalie Koss, Esq., has succeeded in winning a contentious, five-year battle over sex discrimination. The judge delivered the decision after a seven-day EEOC hearing, which resulted in an order that would save the employee’s career. Her experience began when the agency removed her from her position for discriminatory reasons and attempted to discipline her. The EEOC decision states that the agency was wrong and orders the agency instate

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