The state of Missouri is opposing Starbucks’ motion to dismiss an anti-DEI discrimination lawsuit that it filed against the company. According to the state, it has alleged sufficient evidence of discrimination against its citizens to overcome dismissal. The case is State of Missouri v. Starbucks Corp., Case Number 4:25-cv-00165, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
Missouri
Latest from Hall Benefits Law - Employment Law Blog
Ninth Circuit Upholds Constitutionality of California’s Employee Classification Test
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently unanimously upheld a federal district court’s denial of a preliminary injunction in a suit challenging the constitutionality of California’s employee classification test. In its ruling, the appellate court rejected a trucking association’s challenges to the 2020 law under the dormant commerce and equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution. The
DOL Announces It Will Not Enforce Biden-Era Independent Contractor Rule
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (DOL) recently issued a bulletin announcing that its field staff will no longer utilize the agency’s 2024 independent contractor rule in enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
The DOL bulletin directs staff to apply a 2008 fact sheet and a 2019 opinion letter in cases where individuals or the agency
Court Dismisses Employee’s FMLA Claim for Failure to Pay Health Plan Premiums
In Kliskey v. Making Opportunity Count, Inc., 2025 WL 959257 (D. Mass. 2025), Carol Kliskey claimed that Making Opportunity Count, Inc. (MOC), her former employer and a private non-profit organization, violated the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Act. The alleged FMLA violations included terminating her health insurance in retaliation for
Trump Issues Executive Order Cancelling Most Federal Collective Bargaining Agreements
President Trump recently issued an executive order (EO) that effectively cancels federal collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) across 18 federal agencies. The EO is based on the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA), which permits a president to terminate CBAs at agencies in the interests of national security. To qualify for this exemption from CBAs under the CSRA, the workers
UnitedHealth Group Follows Trend, Removes DEI from Website
According to a recent report, UnitedHealth Group has removed much of its website content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). UnitedHealth’s spokesperson, Tyler Mason, stated that the company complies with existing laws while still trying to support the communities they serve with “a collaborative environment where we treat each other with mutual respect.”
Clicking on UnitedHealthcare webpages that previously
Study Shows Few Companies Have Altered DEI Policies Despite Political Pressure
Littler, a law firm focusing on labor, recently published a study showing that only about eight percent of leading American companies have or intend to alter their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. The Littler study involved about 350 C-suite executives. Despite a few high-profile defections of major companies from DEI, most companies have been slow to consider any meaningful
Workplace Civility and Return-to-Office Mandates
Companies are increasingly embracing return-to-office (RTO) mandates, but new SHRM research and data reveal an unexpected consequence of those mandates. The incidence of uncivil acts occurring in the workplace is substantially higher for employees whose employers have issued RTO mandates. According to the SHRM Q1 2025 Civility Index, employees at companies with RTO mandates reported 63% more acts of workplace
EEOC and DOJ Issue Guidance on DEI-Related Discrimination at Work
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEOC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have issued two technical assistance documents entitled: “What You Should Know About DEI-Related Discrimination at Work” and “What To Do If You Experience Discrimination Related to DEI at Work.” Although these documents do not establish any new legal rights or causes of action, they clarify
Corporate America Seeks Balance Between Commitment to Diversity and Rejection of Official DEI Programs
Several large corporations like Target and Wal-Mart have rescinded their formal DEI programs in recent months, presumably to comply with mandates and warnings by the current federal government administration. Nonetheless, a recent report shows that while corporations may be backing away from official DEI programs, they continue to embrace DEI principles in a less obvious manner.
Recruiting firm BarkerGilmore reports