Skip to main content

What I've Been Reading This Week


Earlier this week I pointed readers to the settlement of two class action suits filed against Uber.  However, a new suit was recently filed against the company on behalf of all U.S. Uber drivers (who are not in Massachusetts and California...as those drivers were involved in the prior two class actions).  This new suit alleges that Uber misclassified its drivers as independent contractors, failed to pay overtime wages and compensation, owes its drivers expense reimbursement and failed to turn over gratuities.  I think it is appropriate to lead off this post with an article dedicated to that topic.

As always, below are a few articles that caught my eye this week.



Erik Sherman over at Forbes has a good look at the recent lawsuit filed against Uber.  Sherman, who wrote an update on the pending settlement of the prior two class actions, breaks down the basics of what this new suit seeks.  As he writes, it might be in Uber's best interests to settle this matter out of court (and again kick the independent contractor vs. employee issue down the road).  Time will tell...


USWNT's Attorney Responds to U.S. Soccer Federation

The Huffington Post wrote an overview on the numbers published by the U.S. Soccer Federation in response to the equal pay lawsuit filed by the USWNT.  According to the numbers published by the U.S. Soccer Federation, the pay gap between male and female soccer players is 2.2% (among top players), rather than the 25% that the lawsuit alleged.  However, the USWNT's attorney responded and pointed out that the numbers published by the U.S. Soccer Federation were a "complete distortion" when it was considered the total pay that could be earned when comparing the salary of the men to the women.


EEOC Fact Sheet on Bathroom Access for Transgender Employees

Readers might be aware of the recent transgender bathroom debate going on in North Carolina and Mississippi, not to mention the federal lawsuits filed on the issue earlier this week.  The EEOC recently put out a "Fact Sheet" on the topic that is worth a read.  Perhaps the most important part of the Fact Sheet is the reference to recent cases that on the topic...this is a good resource for employers and employees alike!


OSHA's Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers

This is another good resource for employers and employees to refer to when dealing with transgender bathroom access.  Included in the OSHA Guide is contact information for employers and employees to use to get more information on the topic.  Like the EEOC Fact Sheet, this OSHA Guide is worth a review.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

NLRB: Discussion Among Employees About Tip Pooling is Protected Concerted Activity

  This Advice Memorandum from the National Labor Relations Board’s Associate General Counsel, Jayme Sophir, addressed whether employees which discussed and complained about tip pooling at work constituted protected concerted activity. In relevant part, an employer in New York operated a chain of steakhouses.  While tip pooling was in place at these steakhouses, some of the employees objected to it on the grounds that it was not transparent and improperly divided tips among the workers.  Employees were told not to complain or talk to each other about the tip pool and were told that doing so would endanger their jobs.  Despite the employer later attempting to provide some clarity as to how the tips were being divided, rancor still existed among some employees.  At one point, the employees were told by a general manager that some employees that had been talking about the tip pool were “cleared out” and the employer would continue to do so. In the Advice Memorandum,...
Post a Comment
Read more

Breaking: Labor Secretary Rumored to Be Leaving Administration

A few hours ago, word leaked out that Labor Secretary Marty Walsh (“Walsh”) is in the midst of negotiations to head up the NHL Players Union and leave his position at the Labor Department. Walsh, who has served as the sole Labor Secretary under President Biden, has taken part in a labor renaissance of sorts as support for organized labor has increased during his term as Labor Secretary (although the number of workers that have joined a union over the past two years has not grown as mush as some expected.)  He has also overseen the ongoing negotiations with rail workers over a new contract, although that matter is still on shaky ground and playing out as we speak. As for who might step into the vacant Labor Secretary role, there are already rumblings that President Biden should nominate Deputy Labor Secretary Julie Su (a strong labor advocate) or even a progressive like Senator Bernie Sanders.  Until Walsh officially gives his notice, however, I would expect some/many potential...
Post a Comment
Read more

San Diego Rolls Back Vaccine Mandate For City Workers

Last Tuesday, the San Diego City Council voted to do away with the vaccine mandate for city employees. The city’s vaccine mandate that was in place required city workers to get the coronavirus vaccine or risk termination.  Perhaps to this surprise of no one, the city’s policy came under fire with 14 employees being terminated and over 100 other employees resigning.  With the coronavirus subsiding, including in Southern California, the San Diego City Council took action. Now, bear in mind, the repeal of the vaccine mandate does not take place immediately. With that being said, the mandate will be repealed March 8th.  I suppose the question now is, what other cities or regions follow San Diego’s lead? For additional information:   https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/story/2023-01-24/san-diego-repeals-controversial-covid-19-vaccine-mandate-citing-drop-in-cases-hospitalizations
Post a Comment
Read more