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A leadership aide for the Senate Democratic has reported that the Senate may vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in September. This act could have a dramatic impact on workplace discrimination by preventing employers from discriminating against workers based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. If passed, the act would affect employees and employers in Missouri and in other…
Most forms of discrimination in the workplace have been illegal for a number of years thanks to both state and federal laws. However, weight discrimination is still legal in 49 states, including Missouri. Weight discrimination cases, while rare, do pop up from time to time. A recent workplace discrimination case from New Jersey upheld an employer’s right to limit an…
When the United States Supreme Court overturned the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in June, the decision was hailed by many as a landmark ruling. Many Missouri small business owners viewed the decision as positive because it overturned provisions of DOMA that essentially mandated workplace discrimination against employees in same-sex marriages. But most believe the Supreme Court’s ruling does…
A new report finds that pregnant workers in Missouri and around the nation are routinely denied the basic accommodations they need to keep working during their pregnancies and often end up losing their jobs as a result. The study by the National Women’s Law Center and worker advocate organization A Better Balance finds workplace discrimination against pregnant workers is especially…
The Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, known as GINA, went into effect in 2009. Recently, the EEOC announced that it has filed and settled one suit and filed a class action lawsuit in another case. In both situations, it is claimed the companies engaged in employment discrimination by conducting illegal pre-employment medical exams. Missouri readers may be interested in this topic…
There is no federal law at the present time that prohibits workplace discrimination against people who are gay, lesbian or transgender. Missouri is one of the 29 states that have no state law banning this type of discrimination in hiring or firing employees. The District of Columbia and 21 states have laws on their books that protect LGBT workers. Small…
A news anchor has filed a discrimination complaint against his former employer, a Missouri news station. The complaint was filed with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights and alleges that the news anchor suffered from workplace discrimination during the course of his employment with the station. His complaint states that after he pointed out discrepancies between his pay and the…
A Missouri woman says that a county commission refused to appoint her to a position on the county’s planning and zoning board because of her affiliation with a local environmental group. Although not a traditional employment discrimination case, the woman’s claim illustrates how discrimination issues may arise outside the context of one’s protected class status under the civil rights laws.…
A lawsuit filed by a Missouri deputy against the county sheriff, prosecutor and sheriff’s department has been dismissed after the parties agreed to settle outside of court for $145,000. In the employment discrimination lawsuit, the deputy accused the three named parties of employment discrimination, Sunshine Law violation and retaliation. The deputy filed the claim after she was charged with animal…
In a 19-11 vote, the Senate in Missouri passed a bill making discrimination against gays and lesbians illegal. Democrat Jolie Justus, the first Missouri Senate member who publicly affirmed her homosexuality, had tried six time prior to get the bill passed. Missouri residents can be fired if they are gay and can even get thrown out of their housing if…