Category: Press Release

On April 12, 2012, the California Supreme Court issued its much-awaited decision in Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court, clarifying an employer’s obligations to provide hourly—or non-exempt—workers meal and rest periods. On the central question of what it means to provide meal periods, the Brinker decision concluded that “an employer’s obligation is to relieve its… Continue reading Decision in Brinker v. Superior Court: Employers May Not Interfere with Workers’ Right to Meal Breaks

David Lopez, General Counsel of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), visited the offices of Legal Aid on Wednesday March 21, 2012. Lopez, the first field staff attorney to be appointed as the EEOC’s General Counsel, spent an hour and a half with Legal Aid staff, government representatives and community advocates outlining his mandate… Continue reading EEOC General Counsel David Lopez Visits Legal Aid

Today, in Coleman v. Court of Appeals of Maryland, the Supreme Court held that state workers cannot sue for money damages for violations of the “self-care” provision of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Enacted in 1993, the FMLA allows eligible workers to take up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave (1) to… Continue reading Enforcement of Family Medical Leave Act Weakened by Supreme Court

Although pregnancy discrimination has been illegal for decades, many women continue to be fired after they inform their employers that they are pregnant.   Legal Aid Senior Staff Attorney Sharon Terman recently testified on this issue at a public hearing held by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in Washington, D.C. Terman was one… Continue reading Unlawful Discrimination Against Pregnant Workers and Workers with Caregiving Responsibilities

In a potentially precedent-setting decision, Judge James M. Lorenz of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday ruled in favor of a group of female athletes in a Title IX class action lawsuit against the Sweetwater Union High School District. The judge determined the school district unfairly favored boys’ sports… Continue reading High School Girl Athletes Win Major Title IX Class Action Case in U.S. District Court Against Sweetwater Union School District

Groundbreaking Settlement A Model for Providing Equal Opportunity A major settlement has been reached between Home Depot and deaf and hard of hearing workers in California who claimed they were discriminated against on the basis of their disability. Final approval of the class action settlement was entered by United States District Court Judge Lucy Koh… Continue reading Home Depot Agrees to Enhance Sign Language Interpreters for California Workers

Groundbreaking Settlement A Model for Providing Equal Opportunity A major settlement has been reached between Home Depot and deaf and hard of hearing workers in California who claimed they were discriminated against on the basis of their disability. Final approval of the class action settlement was entered by United States District Court Judge Lucy Koh… Continue reading Home Depot Agrees to Enhance Sign Language Interpreters for California Workers

February 1, 2012, marks the 26th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day! The team staffing Fair Play for Girls in Sports, a project of Legal Aid Society–Employment Law Center, joins coaches, parents, park and recreation departments, school districts, and athletic leagues across the country in celebrating the many positive benefits that girls and… Continue reading February 1: National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Legal Aid Board Member Steven Zieff describes the ramifications of the recent Duran decision, including its potential impact on the rights of low-income workers.