Employment Discrimination Blog

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (PDA) amended Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect an individual from being discriminated against on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition. Pregnancy in no way means you may treat an employee or potential employee any differently than someone else. The PDA works to ensure that no discriminatory acts are made against someone because they are pregnant, have recently given birth, or have a medical condition related to these things.

What is the Pregnancy Discrimination Act?

There are many ways to discriminate on the basis of pregnancy. If an unfavorable employment action is made because someone is pregnant, this is prohibited by the PDA.
Read more . . .

Sexual harassment in the workplace can be particularly stressful because it will not only make you feel uncomfortable, but can also place you in fear that your job may be in jeopardy if you do not handle the situation properly. It comes in many forms, but sexual harassment at work creates a toxic environment. Reporting this kind of behavior might make you afraid of what will happen to your employee status, but know that there are legal protections in place to shield you from backlash you may suffer. The Atlanta employment discrimination attorneys at Pankey & Horlock, LLC stand up for employees who have suffered sexual harassment in the workplace.

Read more . . .

Can my employer fire me for being pregnant?

Being pregnant in the workplace can be an unfortunately intimidating time.  Federal law protects pregnant employees from discrimination in the workplace, but nonetheless many pregnant women still report being bullied and fired due to their pregnant status. With about 75 percent of the 72 million women workers in the workforce eventually becoming pregnant, according to the latest Pew Research, pregnancy discrimination is a major national issue.
Read more . . .

Can an employee who was voluntarily paid after a dispute recover for attorney’s fees and costs in an FLSA action?

 

Employment law is an ever-shifting field, requiring both employers and employees alike stay abreast of recent case developments.  Looking back at 2018, two federal court decisions stand out as providing important guidance on wage and hour issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).  Both of these cases represent a positive outcome for employers.  Our Read more . . .

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.  Our

Read more . . .

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.

Read more . . .

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.  

Read more . . .

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.

Read more . . .

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.

Read more . . .