On June 29, 2026, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to rescind two policy documents laying out steps employers can take to increase representation of historically marginalized groups in the workplace (i.e., affirmative action). The two documents are the EEOC’s “Affirmative Action Appropriate Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
As of July 1, 2026, Tennessee employers face a significantly different legal landscape for noncompete agreements.
On May 7, 2026, Gov. Bill Lee signed legislation that materially reforms Tennessee’s approach to restrictive covenants. The law is now in effect and applies to all noncompete agreements entered into, renewed, or amended on or after July 1
A recent opinion letter from the U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division (WHD), FLSA2026-5, offers a helpful reminder for employers managing exempt classifications — particularly in workplaces where employees may perform a mix of exempt and non-exempt work.
The key takeaway: An employee does not lose exempt status simply because they perform
On May 5, 2026, the EEOC filed suit against the New York Times (NYT) in the Southern District of New York for engaging in DEI-related discrimination. The lawsuit alleges that the NYT violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act when it passed over a white male employee for a promotion to deputy real estate
On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a significant precedential decision in Secretary U. S. Department of Labor v. Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services LLC, No. 24-2842, 2026 WL 1582064 (3d Cir. June 3, 2026), narrowing the scope of wage-and-hour liability under the Fair Labor Standards Act
Artificial intelligence has steadily moved into a front-line decision-making role in the workplace. Connecticut’s newly enacted AI law reflects that and makes clear that, when technology influences employment decisions, employers must be ready to explain it.
Signed into law on May 29, 2026, Senate Bill (SB) 5 measure places new limits and disclosure obligations on
In a recent decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reaffirmed a familiar — but increasingly debated — principle in employment discrimination law: Plaintiffs proceeding under the McDonnell Douglas framework must identify a similarly situated comparator outside their protected class who was treated more favorably to survive summary judgment (Bravo v.
On May 28, 2026, the Eleventh Circuit issued an opinion in Khatabi v. Car Auto Holdings, LLC, holding, in relevant part, that an employer waived its ability to request a damages cap under Title VII based on its smaller size because it failed to plead the size damages cap as an affirmative defense.
In
As summer approaches, many organizations welcome interns and host a variety of social events, including happy hours, outings, and team-building activities. While these programs can boost morale and provide valuable networking opportunities, they also introduce additional workplace risks, particularly when alcohol, power dynamics, and inclusion concerns intersect. For employers with summer interns, thoughtful planning can
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and White House have an overarching message for workplaces: Artificial intelligence is here to stay — and it’s not a matter of if, but rather when and how, you incorporate it into your business. As businesses’ internal software platforms are rapidly being retrofitted with AI capabilities, the DOL