The EEOC has revised its "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law" poster. The poster was revised to reflect new federal employment laws, including the ADA Amendments, and the Genetic Non Discrimination in Employment Act ("GINA"). Employers can either obtain a new poster, or a supplement their existing poster. The new posting is mandatory effective November 21
How to Avoid Liability for Discrimination
A recent decision from the Eighth Circuit provides good training material about what "not to do" if you want to your company to avoid being liable for discrimination, and possibly punitive damages.
The EEOC filed suit against Siouxland Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Associates, a medical clinic in Sioux Falls South Dakota. The complaint alleged that Siouxland terminated
Eighth Circuit Issues Important Ruling on Affirmative Action
In a ruling issued September 3, 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held that an employer that follows an affirmative action plan in making an employment decision can be guilty of unlawful race discrimination. The Court’s decision in Humphries v. Pulaski County Special School District is the first in the Eighth Circuit to address
Iowa Supreme Court Issues Important Ruling on Pregnancy Discrimination
Last week the Iowa Supreme Court issued a ruling in a pregnancy discrimination case that decided three issues significant to employers and employment litigators.
The first issue in DeBoom v. Raining Rose, Inc. involved whether an employee must actually be pregnant at the time of a termination to be protected by the Iowa Civil Rights Act’s
Text Harassment?
The National Law Journal reports today that text messages 
are becoming a growing liability concern for employers. Offensive and inappropriate texts are increasingly being used as evidence in sexual harassment cases. According to the article, the main culprit is male bosses sending scandalous messages to female subordinates asking them on dates or making promises
Human Resources Challeges for 2009
A recent post at Human Resources Executive Online, entitled "Warnings from the Top". provides an excellent overview of some of the new challenges employers have been presented since the beginning of 2009. "Like it or not" say the authors, changes are coming, and employers better be prepared.
According to several attorneys the authors
Wage Discrimination Amendments Signed Into Law
On April 28, 2009, Governor Culver signed into law Senate File 137, entitled an Act "Providing that Wage Discrimination is an Unfair Employment Practice under the Iowa Civil Rights Act and Providing an Enhanced Remedy.” This law (available here) amends the Iowa Civil Rights Act to expressly provide that pay differentials among employees are unlawful