BELK EMPLOYEE FILES EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT

A North Carolina woman has filed a lawsuit against a local Belk department store after she was fired for refusing to wear a Santa hat while wrapping presents. Myra Jones-Abid, who is a Jehovah’s Witness, told her bosses should couldn’t wear the hat because “her religion forbids her from observing Christmas.” The suit claims she was fired the same day. The employment discrimination lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.

FULL STORY

NOVARTIS SETTLES GENDER DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT FOR $152.5 MILLION

A group of female workers for Novartis has received a $152.5 million settlement from the company in a gender discrimination lawsuit. The lawsuit, which represents more than 5,000 Novartis female employees in the U.S., claims that the women faced differential treatment regarding “pay and promotion and for pregnancy.”

As part of the settlement, Novartis will also spend the next three years working to improve its personnel policies.

FULL STORY

FULL STORY

24 HOUR FITNESS SUED FOR EMPLOYEE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

24 Hour Fitness USA Inc. has been accused of racial discrimination in a lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of workers earlier this week. The lawsuit claims that the gym discriminates against minority and female workers “regarding promotions to management jobs and equal pay.” The practice is in violation of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Business and Profession Code, the suit states. The plaintiffs seek back pay and damages for unfair treatment.

FULL STORY

EMPLOYEES FILE RACE DISCRIMINATION SUIT AGAINST EMPLOYER COMCAST

A discrimination lawsuit has been filed against Comcast by a former employee who claims that, upon his transfer to the Naples, Fla., office in 2006, he was discriminated against because he is African-American. Timothy Morrison, who worked for Comcast for 10 years, claims that his bosses in the Naples office created a “pattern of harassing and hostile treatment based on his race,” including suggesting he should move back to Chicago to be near “his people.” Morrison also alleges that when he formally complained about the treatment, he was fired. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of damages.

FULL STORY

HOMEBUILDER SETTLES RACIAL DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT

An Atlanta homebuilder has agreed to a $378,500 settlement in a lawsuit that accused the company of racial discrimination. The lawsuit claimed that John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods Inc. intentionally steered African-American sales agents to lower-priced subdivisions, which prevented them from earning similar commissions as their white counterparts in higher-cost subdivisions. Over the next six years, Wieland will hire at least 10 African-Americans and women for management positions as part of the settlement.

FULL STORY

POLICE OFFICERS SETTLE WITH CITY FOR UNPAID WAGES

Officers in Houston’s canine police unit have reached a settlement with the city that will pay them overtime for the care of their dogs. The officers filed suit against the city last summer, claiming that the city was obligated to pay the officers for time the spent off-duty taking care of their dogs. Each of the 50 officers in the suit will receive 1.5 hours overtime weekly for weekend and holiday care for their police dogs.

FULL STORY

HOTEL EMPLOYEES FILE WAGE LAWSUIT AGAINST EMPLOYER, HILTON

More than 150 current and former employees of the Los Angeles airport Hilton have filed a lawsuit against their employer, claiming the hotel avoided the city’s living wage law. The lawsuit states that the hotel paid the employees less than they were entitled to by law by hiring through a subcontractor to avoid paying higher wages. The suit seeks back pay for affected employees and a court injunction mandating that Hilton comply with the city’s living wage laws in the airport area.

FULL STORY