Our Blog: Blog

How the Internet of Things May Shape Employment Practices in the Foreseeable Future

The Internet of Things (“IoT”) is the network of physical objects embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and connectivity to enable objects to exchange data with the operator and/or other connected devices.[i]  We may more commonly think of IoT as, say, the data collected and exchanged between your computers, smartphones, …

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Newly adopted SEC Rule to Create Transparency on Growing Pay Gap Between CEOs and Their Employees

On August 5, 2015, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted a final rule that requires public companies to disclose the ratios of their CEOs’ compensation to the median compensation of their employees.  The new rule was mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer …

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In the Absence of Federal Legislation for Sexual Orientation Discrimination, EEOC Steps Up

Many months ago, we heard something that surprised us – that the EEOC was interested in investigating charges of sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace.  We weren’t disappointed by this news (in fact, quite the opposite), but we were somewhat confused because the agency is charged with enforcing …

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Small Businesses Not Immune to Anti-Discrimination Laws: Employees Should Know Their Rights

In recent years, the number of small businesses has exploded.  There are an estimated 28 million small businesses currently in the U.S., increasing about 49% since 1982.[1]  Indeed, as of 2013, businesses employing less than 50 workers comprised about 96% of companies in the U.S.[2]  The obvious corollary to these figures is …

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Recent study by the NAACP shows that minority employees paid less than white counterparts

We are incredibly disappointed by recent research indicating that minority employees in the retail industry face significant disparities in terms of compensation and opportunities for advancement.  The study, conducted by the NAACP and Demos, a public policy organization, found that minority employees, including African-Americans, Latinos, and Asians make …

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Part 3: How coworkers can serve as allies to transgender counterparts

For the final installment in this three part series, we wanted to focus on how coworkers and others in the workplace can serve as allies to their transgender counterparts.  The following are some tips on how to address these issues in the workplace to foster a safe and inclusive working environment.

Use …

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Employers’ search for digital natives on the rise: good recruiting or age discrimination? 

Fortune published an interesting article this month about the rise of a curious trend: employers recruiting for “digital natives” and the potential age-biases implied by such hiring methods, which make them controversial.

Fortune reports that the “digital native” recruitment trend is especially prominent in the media, advertising, and tech industries, where …

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How employers can ensure the workplace is inclusive for transgender employees

For the second installment in this series, we will focus on ways that employers can ensure that the workplace is an inclusive and welcoming environment for their transgender employees.  Much of this seems obvious in a world that has been so shaped by laws protecting employees from discrimination and retaliation in …

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A Primer for the Unemployed Part 3: Caring for Yourself While Unemployed

We get it:  you lost your job and all you want to do is either lay in bed and watch Mad Men reruns or compulsively surf the internet for job postings.  Neither of those options, however, is going to get you what you want:  a job that makes you happy.

As employment lawyers, …

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Microsoft announces new pilot program focused on promoting inclusion for individuals with disabilities. 

Tech giant Microsoft recently announced its launch of a new pilot program focused on hiring people with autism for full-time positions at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

Mary Ellen Smith, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Operations, discussed the program on the company’s blog.  Smith, who has a 19 year old son …

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