Title VII of the Civil Rights Act Archives

EEOC Alleges Abortion Travel Benefits Violate ADA, Title VII; Abortion Rates Tick Up; Indiana Judge Rules Ban Violates Religious Freedom

by McDermott Will & Emery | Jan 12, 2023 | Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

Lawyers are advising employers to beef up their health-related travel benefits to emphasize equal access for all employees as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission begins to target employers that have expanded travel coverage for abortions.

EEOC’s charges come as new data indicate the rate of abortions accessed by Americans has ticked up, reversing a years-long decline, according to a new census from the Guttmacher Institute.

While litigation over state bans simmers in several states, abortion activists scored a win in Indiana after a judge ruled the state’s ban violates religious freedom protections enacted by statehouse Republicans. Abortion access has been temporarily restored in Indiana while litigation continues.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A

by Joseph K. Mulherin, Kathleen Quinn, Troy Van Dongen and McDermott Will & Emery | Jul 7, 2021 | Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans

Can employers mandate some employees get the vaccine and not others? Is there an obligation to consider requiring a COVID-19 test before coming back to work? What are the potential workers’ compensation claims relating to possible adverse reactions to a vaccine? Should employers mandate vaccinations?

In this article, McDermott partners Carole Spink, Joseph Mulherin, Kathleen Quinn and Troy Van Dongen answer common employer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine.

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4 Discrimination Law Questions Looming as Biden Era Begins

by McDermott Will & Emery | Mar 16, 2021 | Employment, Labor, Privacy and Data Security

President Joe Biden is expected to usher in a decidedly more worker-friendly environment than his predecessor, but whether Congress or the courts embrace similar pro-employee leanings over the next four years is anyone’s guess.

In a recent article for Law360, McDermott partner Daniel Doron weighs in on four top-of-mind questions about bias law that may soon be addressed under the Biden administration.

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Use a Checklist to Avoid LGBTQ Discrimination in Your Benefits Programs

by Jacob Mattinson | Jul 21, 2020 | Benefit Controversies, Employee Benefits, Employment, Health and Welfare Plans

The US Supreme Court ruled June 15 in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga. that the prohibition against sex discrimination in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act covers sexual orientation and gender identity. Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including part-time and temporary workers.

Following the decision, benefits experts advise that employers review their benefits programs to ensure that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) employees are treated equally. Employers can use a checklist to find and correct discriminatory language and practices, and thereby reduce the likelihood of being sued under Title VII or other statutes that provide employees with sexual-orientation and gender-identity protections.

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