Employment Discrimination Blog

Can my employer require me to wear clothing that violates my religious beliefs?

Religious freedom has long been a central ideology of the United States.  Our constitution protects the right of the American people to practice the religion of their choosing.  Yet even today in the 21st century, cases continue to arise in which employees are discriminated against due to their religious beliefs.  Read more . . .

How can social media influence employment today?

Facebook has faced several scandals involving discrimination in recent years. Now, the company has been accused of allowing employers to exclude female job candidates using the social media platform’s recruitment campaign technology.  Formal charges were recently filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by a group of job applicants coupled with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Communications Workers of America.  In our internet and social media driven culture, these accusations against Facebook must be taken seriously.  Our Atlanta, Georgia employment discrimination lawyer explains the Facebook charges and what they could mean for the company below.

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What protections do LGBT employees have in the state of Georgia?

A new report released by InsuranceQuotes.com should raise alarm among Georgia employers and employees alike.  InsuranceQuotes.com, a website that allows users to compare insurance rates, compiled data from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission concerning complaints related to both sexual orientation and gender identity.  The study found that Georgia employees filed 4.2 charges per 100,000 residents during the years 2014 to 2017.  In total, LGBT employees filed 432 discrimination claims during that three-year period, the second highest rate of complaints nationwide.  

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Do Georgia employees have any recourse if they are fired for their sexual orientation?

Recently, a federal appeals court in Atlanta reaffirmed its holding that Georgia workers are not protected against workplace discrimination based on their sexual orientation. The decision stemmed from a lawsuit originally filed in 2016. In the suit, Gerald Bostock, a former child welfare services coordinator working near Atlanta, claimed he was fired for being gay. The case garnered significant local and national coverage because it dealt with the complex issue of whether Title VII protects workers from adverse action due to their sexual orientation. Our Read more . . .

What changes will the new hands-free law mean for Georgia employers?

Georgia’s new hands-free law went into effect on July 1, 2018. The law is anticipated to bring widespread changes to both private drivers and employers who require employees to drive on the job. Passed in response to alarming rates of distracted driving accidents, the hands-free law prohibits drivers from physically holding a wireless telecommunications device while driving. This law expands on the already existing ban on texting while driving.

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What does the Supreme Court’s ruling in Masterpiece Cakeshop mean for business owners?

The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a ruling in the highly anticipated case of Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd.

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What clauses should my employee handbook contain?

Employers in Georgia should develop a thorough employee handbook that sets out in writing the policies of the business, expectations of employees, employee benefits, and much more. Your handbook can provide an excellent introduction to the core values and mission of the business, while outlining vital rules regarding workplace code of conduct. While all employee handbooks are unique, your Georgia employee handbook will likely include the following features:

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Can my employer fire me for being transgender?

Recently, a federal appeals court held that transgender people are protected under civil rights laws that ban workplace discrimination based on sex. The decision, which arouse out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, could bring significant protections to transgender employees across the nation. Our Atlanta employment discrimination lawyers at Pankey & Horlock, LLC...

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Is my Company's Non-Compete Agreement Enforceable?

Non-compete agreements have become a source of much controversy in recent years.  Some view non-compete agreements as an infringement to a worker’s ability to find jobs in the free market.  For the employer, however, non-competition agreements can prove essential for protecting the employer’s confidential information.  In many states, courts have limited the Read more . . .

How many disability based job discrimination claims are filed each year?

After a record 28,073 disability related job discrimination claims were filed in 2016, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is pleased to report that this figure has dropped significantly since 2017. Federal officials state that 26,838 discrimination claims based on disability were filed in 2017. Similarly, the agency saw a decrease in the number of job bias complaints.
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What is gender discrimination?

A female shareholder recently lodged a gender discrimination lawsuit against a law firm nationally known for defending employers against employment discrimination claims.  Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. is an employment law firm comprised of more than 850 lawyers in over 50 offices throughout the United States.  Now, the firm faces alarming allegations of systemically paying female shareholders less, denying women equal opportunities for advancement, and manipulating origination credits to the benefit of male employees.
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