October 23, 2014
Honest Belief Defense Unavailable for FMLA Interference Claims
Earlier this month, the United States District Court, S.D. Ohio ruled that an employer may not rely upon an honest belief that an employee was abusing FMLA leave as a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason to terminate an employee. The honest belief rule is ordinarily available to employers as a defense against claims of employment discrimination.
October 3, 2014
Religious Accommodation in the Workplace
Yesterday was the first day of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2014-2015 term and the Court already has made a splash in employment law news. In EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc., the EEOC has claimed that Abercrombie failed to provide a reasonable religious accommodation for a hijab-wearing job applicant. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the EEOC and held that Abercrombie failed to provide a reasonable accommodation to its clothing policy.