Week@Work

This episode highlights two developments from the U.S. Supreme Court that impact the use of arbitration agreements, changes in green card requirements, and a jackpot settlement of a harassment lawsuit brought against a Vegas restaurant. At the state level, Governor Newsom issues an Executive Order on AI and the workplace and Tesla is headed to trial on a race discrimination case. In terms of new California lawsuits, Google accused of baby bonding bias and SKIMS faces class action wage and hour claims. And our bizarre case finds MrBeast defending the company's unusual HR policies.

This episode highlights two major U.S. Supreme Court arbitration developments, including the NFL’s failed attempt to enforce its arbitration process and a ruling allowing last-mile delivery drivers to pursue misclassification claims in court. Joe also discusses new USCIS green card guidance, a $2 million EEOC harassment settlement involving Bouchon, and Governor Newsom’s executive order preparing California’s workforce for AI-driven change. The episode also highlights Tesla’s race harassment case heading toward trial, a surge in disability accommodation lawsuits, new claims against Google and SKIMS, and a bizarre case involving MrBeast’s company and an alleged workplace culture guide that reads more like a legal exhibit than an HR policy.

This episode highlights a possible end to federal EEO-1 reporting requirements, a major settlement involving vaccine accommodation claims, and an important ADA ruling on remote work as an accommodation. Joe also discusses an Apple employee’s unsuccessful protected activity claim, a $12 million pay equity and retaliation settlement, and new lawsuits involving unpaid work time, pregnancy discrimination, and whistleblower retaliation. Plus, our bizarre case involves a police officer who tried turning a workplace complaint into a prayer.

This episode highlights the end of a rule increasing the federal salary level for exempt status, a lawsuit filed on behalf of 30,000 experts used for AI training who allegedly were misclassified as independent contractors, and a WARN suit against Spirit Airlines. In California, a bill would create new employer obligations if jobs are affected by AI and a $103 million age bias verdict is reduced to $20 million. Also, Walmart will pay $2.25 million to settle a wage and hour suit while a slew of major employers are hit with new similar suits. And our bizarre case involves a baseball umpire that doesn’t follow rules.

This episode highlights several key developments. The Supreme Court declined to resolve a split over employer liability for third party harassment, leaving California employers under the familiar rule that if you knew or should have known and failed to act, risk remains. In California, enforcement continues to focus on worker classification, with 4.4 million dollars in penalties issued for misclassifying caregivers, reinforcing that control, not labels, drives liability, while Cal OSHA’s proposed workplace violence rules leave employers complying without final guidance. The courts also limited religious accommodation claims, upholding dismissal where beliefs were too vague and not clearly communicated. New lawsuits show whistleblower retaliation dominating, with claims tied to terminations following internal complaints. And in our bizarre case, a lawsuit against Howard Stern is a reminder that employment law follows the work, even into the home.

This episode highlights several key developments. The Supreme Court declined to resolve a split over employer liability for third party harassment, leaving California employers under the familiar rule that if you knew or should have known and failed to act, risk remains. In California, enforcement continues to focus on worker classification, with $4.4 million in penalties issued for misclassifying caregivers, reinforcing that control, not labels, drives liability, while Cal OSHA’s proposed workplace violence rules leave employers complying without final guidance. The courts also limited religious accommodation claims, upholding dismissal where beliefs were too vague and not clearly communicated. New lawsuits show whistleblower retaliation dominating, with claims tied to terminations following internal complaints. And in our bizarre case, a lawsuit against Howard Stern is a reminder that employment law follows the work, even into the home.