Discrimination & Harassment

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With 2025 winding down and the holiday season upon us, many organizations are planning to celebrate another year in the books, boost employee morale, and foster workplace camaraderie. While holiday parties may feel like a break from work, it’s important to remember that company policies, including those against harassment and discrimination, still apply during these…

Pennsylvania will soon implement the CROWN Act, a law that prohibits discrimination based on hairstyles, textures, and types, as well as religious head-coverings. Signed by Governor Josh Shapiro on November 19, 2025, the Act amends the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) and takes effect January 24, 2026. Employers across the state should begin preparing now…

On March 19, 2025, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued a technical assistance document titled, “What You Should Know About DEI-Related Discrimination at Work.”  The document is comprised of a series of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that provide guidance on what workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (“DEI”) policies and programs may…

With a presidential election just around the corner, employers can expect to see an uptick in political discussions in the workplace, if they haven’t already. The days when coworkers typically refrained from discussing politics and religion have passed. However, what is permitted and required of employers with respect to politics in the workplace these days…

A jury will consider a former teacher’s (Mr. Moorehead) First Amendment claim against his former employer, a Pennsylvania School District (the “District”).  The claim arose from Mr. Moorehead’s attendance at the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021, and his subsequent separation from employment with the District.

Mr. Moorehead traveled down to Washington…

On May 1, 2024, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court vacated an arbitration award involving the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Officers Association (“Association”) and a former University police officer who was fired due to offensive social media posts. In 2021, several anonymous University students (known as the “Activists”) submitted screenshots of the Police Officer’s social…

In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court recently clarified the circumstances under which an employer may deny a request for a religious accommodation under Title VII.  Specifically, in Groff v. DeJoy, the Court held that in order to justify denying a request, an employer must now demonstrate that granting a religious accommodation would…

Many employers require their workers to sign arbitration agreements at the outset of employment, and it’s no wonder why.  These agreements allow employers to require arbitration of many employment-related disputes, rather than participate in lengthy, expensive lawsuits.

On February 10, 2022, the United States Senate passed a bill that will prohibit this practice with respect…

As we shared in past blog posts, the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Act (“MMA”) contains an anti-discrimination provision, that prohibits employers from discriminating against an employee “solely on the basis of such employee’s status as an individual who is certified to use medical marijuana.”  Earlier this year, we also shared that the Superior Court confirmed that…

The Biden Administration announced earlier this summer that Long COVID may qualify as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the Rehabilitation Act and several other federal statutes offering protection for disabled individuals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has defined “Long COVID” as new or ongoing symptoms of COVID-19 that can…