WSNYC Blog: The Latest in Employment Law

Jordan Kafenbaum, a former SoulCycle executive, filed a lawsuit against her employer for alleged pregnancy discrimination. SoulCycle, a popular cardio-focused workout studio, was co-founded by Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice. There are currently over 90 studios across the country, and the company is soon expected to expand internationally with its first studio in London. The “millennial-beloved company,” however, continues to be criticized for being a toxic workplace, according to an article published on Forbes. Kafenbaum stated in the same article

Families of American workers who claim that their loved ones contracted lethal cases of COVID-19 at work, are filing wrongful death lawsuits. Companies like Walmart Inc., Safeway Inc., Tyson Foods Inc., and some health-care facilities are accused of gross negligence or wrongful death as the pandemic spreads rapidly across the US.

In one lawsuit, Norma Zuniga, widow of Pedro Zuniga, sued Safeway and Albertsons for gross negligence and wrongful death. Pedro Zuniga handled produce in a Safeway distribution center in Tracy,

15 female former employees of the NFL’s Washington Football Team (formerly the “Washington Redskins”) have come forward with serious allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace. The sexual harassment allegedly took place between 2006 and 2019. The female NFL employees claim that there were inappropriate remarks about their bodies or attire and even instances of verbal abuse. The female employees cited the lack of an effective human resources department as an issue that contributed to a toxic workplace environment.

Evidence of

Last month, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a lawsuit against United Airlines on the basis of religious discrimination. In an article written in New York and posted on JDSupra, a Buddhist pilot was diagnosed with alcohol dependency and had to obtain a new medical certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In order to do so, United Airlines conducts a program for pilots who struggle with substance abuse, which requires regular attendance at Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The

The Ellen DeGeneres Show is an award-winning NBC daytime talk show that brings Warner Bros an estimated 35 million dollars each year. Its host, comedian Ellen DeGeneres, has built her brand on the motto “be kind” over the years. She hosts lavish giveaways for struggling families and is a prominent advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her human rights work by President Obama. However, it is precisely because of her public

Earlier this month, Variety, a popular American media company, reported on a lawsuit filed against Live Nation for race and gender discrimination. Candace Newman, an executive employee of Live Nation, a major entertainment company, claimed that she was retaliated against for speaking out about race and gender discrimination in the workplace. Soon after her complaint, Newman was furloughed for supposed Covid-19-related staff reductions which she believes was simply an excuse. The suit, filed in L.A. County Superior Court, states that

Two teachers from Southern California, Agnes Morrisey-Berru and Kristen Biel, sued their respective Catholic schools. The cases of Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru and St. James School v. Biel combined to form one case recently brought before the Supreme Court. Agnes Morrissey-Berru was fired because she turned 65 years old. In a secular workplace, this termination is age discrimination. Kristen Biel requested paid sick in order to receive treatments for her breast cancer. Kristen Biel was denied paid

Following the rapid surge of Covid-19 cases back in April, many began to wonder if wearing a mask in public would help protect them from the virus. In his speech on TheStreet, Dr. Anthony Fauci, a physician and an immunologist who is one of the lead members of the Trump Administration’s White House Coronavirus Task Force, stated that wearing a mask can prevent the spread of the virus to a certain degree. Since then, some states, including New York, have required people

On July 1, 2020, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) sued NICE Systems, Inc. for pregnancy discrimination. The EEOC advances opportunities in the workplace by enforcing federal laws that prohibit employment discrimination. According to their lawsuit, the software company allegedly paid an employee less, retaliated against her, and forced her to resign because of her pregnancy.* After the employee informed her supervisor of the pregnancy, he stopped assigning her sales leads and denied her commission payments. When she complained,

In recent months, conversations around institutional racism and equality have become widespread in the wake of George Floyd’s and Breonna Taylor’s deaths. Many individuals are engaging in discussions to learn about racial injustice and how individual members of society can promote change. Included in these dialogues are black employees at ESPNwho have shared their personal experiences with discrimination behind the cameras. In an article published by the New York Times, several black employees spoke about their displeasure with the major sports media