Civil Rights

If I Come Out As #Metoo, Could I Get Sued?

The reports of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual misconduct set off a cascade of sexual harassment and assault allegations against well-known men in politics, the arts, academia, and Hollywood.  Women posted their personal accounts of #metoo on social media.  Spurred by solidarity and accountability, women who long remained silent about harassment and abuse they experienced stepped forward

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California Fair Pay Act: Equal Pay Is On The Way

Have you ever felt that you were not paid fair wages due to race, ethnicity, or salary history? On January 1, 2017, the state legislature added two provisions to the California Fair Pay Act to address these concerns regarding equal pay.  California Fair Pay Act: Revised Previously, the Fair Pay Act stated that workers conducting

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What You Need to Know About the New Parity in Pay Ordinance

San Francisco’s Parity in Pay Ordinance Yesterday, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee signed the Parity in Pay Ordinance, which prohibits employers from inquiring about or relying upon a job applicant’s salary history. Specifically, the Ordinance prevents employers who are required to do business in the City, including City contractors and subcontractors, from considering a job

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March 8th: International Women’s Day

The first “National Women’s Day” was observed in the United States in 1909, to recognize the 1908 garment workers’ strike in New York.  A year later, Women’s Day was recognized internationally at a conference in Copenhagen, where over 100 women from 17 countries created a worldwide day of celebration to advocate for women’s rights. In

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The ABCs of School District Liability for the Abuse and Mistreatment of Students

A disturbing video surfaced recently of a teacher’s aide slapping, tackling, and throwing items at a nine-year-old boy at TobinWorld, a school for children with disabilities in Antioch, California.[1] Public records from the local police department show that from 2008 to 2014, there were 35 episodes of violence between staff and students at TobinWorld’s three

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What to Expect From Your California Employer When You’re Expecting

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the bestselling pregnancy manual What to Expect When You’re Expecting. The most recent edition of What to Expect includes some general information about the legal rights of pregnant employees under federal law alongside practical advice about how to tell your boss you are pregnant and tips for staying safe and healthy on

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EEOC v. Ford Motor Company

Telecommuting as Disability Accommodation? When Yahoo! CEO Marisa Mayer implemented a ban on telecommuting at the company in 2013, the initial backlash seemed to focus primarily on her taking a step that would most harm those for whom she had served as a role model – working mothers in Silicon Valley.  After stepping into the

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Recent Challenges to the No-Fly List

The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced that it will not appeal the January 2014 ruling of U.S. District Judge William Alsup, that the placement of Rahinah Ibrahim on the no-fly list violated due process.  In that case, Judge Alsup held that the existing redress procedure, the Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program

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