New England Biz Law Update

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a statement of interest asserting that gender dysphoria is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a move that could impact how employers handle accommodations and discrimination claims from transgender employees. ...

The EEOC has released news of multiple legal actions related to pregnancy discrimination, and employers should take notice. First, the agency filed suit against a bakery cafe in New Orleans, claiming that it violated federal law when it fired an ...

A ruling by an administrative law judge has affirmed that the employment agreement mandated by United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), one of the largest U.S. mortgage lenders, contains multiple provisions that violate federal labor laws and unlawfully restrict workers’ protected rights. ...

A federal judge has allowed a proposed class action lawsuit to move forward against CVS Health Corporation and CVS Pharmacy, Inc. over their alleged use of lie detector tests with job applicants. The lawsuit, which was filed by plaintiff Brendan ...

The former president of Boston Globe Media Partners cannot pursue treble damages — up to three times actual damages — under the Massachusetts Wage Act for the news organization’s failure pay him amounts allegedly due under a profit-sharing agreement, a ...

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has launched a new initiative to support workers from underserved communities who often do not seek the agency’s assistance when needed. Called the REACH initiative —“Enhancing OutREACH to Vulnerable Workers and Underserved Communities”— the ...

In a unanimous ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that whistleblowers need not prove that their employer acted with “retaliatory intent” to allow for protection under the federal Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX). The ruling in the case, Murray v. UBS Securities, LLC, is ...

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a new proposed role to address “the full range of hazards currently facing emergency responders.” The new Emergency Response Standard, proposed on February 5, 2024, replaces the existing Fire Brigades Standard ...

A pizzeria in the state of New York has agreed to pay $25,000 and provide other relief to settle a sex-based harassment lawsuit filed by the EEOC. The agency charged that a transgender cook at T.C. Wheelers Bar & Pizzeria ...

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a final rule intended to reduce the risk of fraud in the H-1B registration process. Employers must be aware of the new rules as the FY 2025 registration period begins at 12 ...