One of the things we do at NachtLaw is counsel students and employees grappling with mental health disability. Increasingly, as the linked article below shows, workers are not afraid to seek accommodations. Historically, the fear of stigma prevented many employees...
Jury awards husband and wife $11.4M over workplace discrimination
A husband and wife working for the Michigan Department of Corrections filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and retaliation. The suit resulted in an $11.4 million unanimous jury verdict award. Federal law protects employees from harassment, which includes any...
Can an employer discriminate against overweight employees?
Michigan is the only state in the union that enacted laws prohibiting an employer from discriminating against an employee who is overweight. Whether someone is carrying a few extra pounds or is obese, an employer may not harass, humiliate, fire or hire based on an...
Employers continue to discriminate against breastfeeding workers
A HuffPost investigation shows hundreds of working mothers across the United States continue to be discriminated against over breastfeeding their children. The report details 376 federal investigations from 2010 through 2018. Complaints continue despite the enactment...
What is GINA? How does it relate to FMLA discrimination?
Genetic testing can determine your predisposition or increased risk of major illnesses, such cancer. It is now recognized that 5 - 10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary. A mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 can affect the repair of cells and normal growth. Having the...
Academic politics and Title IX proceedings
Sexual harassment and discrimination are not new problems in the world of academia. Recent scandals in some major universities, however, have prompted some to wonder if the protections of Title IX are working as intended. Two sets of problems can occur. The first is...
Ann Arbor Google employees protest sexual harassment with walkout
Google employees throughout the U.S., including those working in Michigan, walked out from their workplaces in protest of the company's alleged treatment of women executives. According to The Detroit News, more than 100 employees at Google's Ann Arbor location walked...
From pregnancy discrimination to negative actions against parents
While great strides have been made to improve workplace conditions and increase economic opportunities for women, there continues to be discrimination. Pregnancy discrimination is one of the most common. For decades, women have felt the pressure to choose between...
Do you have the impostor syndrome?
The imposter syndrome is a feeling that is disproportionately common among women and minorities in the workplace. It is a nagging doubt that you are not good enough, do not belong or are “faking it until you make it.” It can impact your ability to do your job,...
4 examples of subtle workplace sexism
It is no secret that sexism in the workplace is still a problem. While there are obvious forms of misogyny and sex discrimination at work, sometimes it is not so apparent. According to a report by Fast Company, biases toward women in the workplace are often implicit...
