Keep an eye on this 8th Circuit LGBT-discrimiation case

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has been asked to decide if Title VII expressly protects gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees.

The case—Horton v. Midwest Geriatric Management—involves an individual who lost his conditional job offer after, he claims, the owners of the company discovered his sexual orientation.

The 8th Circuit will be the 5th federal circuit to rule on this issue.

WIRTW #511 (the “dads” edition)

Since we just celebrated Father’s Day, I thought I’d use this space to highlight some of the best posts I read this past week about working dads:

• For Working Dads, Workflex Works — via Next Blog
• Why Workplaces Need to Be Fairer to Working Dads — via Harvard Business Review
• Five fun facts about fathers (in the workplace) — via Robin Shea’s Employment & Labor Insider
• Fathers Day offers a chance to ponder the disadvantages faced by many working dads — via Insight
• 2018’s Best & Worst States for Working Dads — via WalletHub
• Stay-At-Home Dads Still Struggle With Diapers, Drool, Stigma And Isolation — via NPR

As for my dad, he received a new fanny pack (I understand they are very much back in style; thanks, Amazon Prime, for delivering the gift four days late).

Here’s what else I read this week:

Should we require drug testing as a condition for unemployment benefits?

This is the question posed by Ohio House Bill 704.

Let's be clear. This law, if enacted, would not require drug testing as a condition for all applicants for unemployment benefits. Only those—

1. for whom there exists reasonable cause to suspect the unlawful use of a controlled substance; and 
2. whose most recent employer fired because of the unlawful use of a controlled substance.

EEOC sees no #MeToo uptick in harassment filings, but…

Earlier this month, the EEOC reconvened its Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace. One fact that came out of the agency’s meeting is that, according to Acting EEOC Chair Victoria Lipnic, the EEOC has yet to see an increase in sexual harassment charges in response to the #MeToo movement.

I do want to mention one other point that we have been frequently asked here at the EEOC - and that is - “have you seen an uptick in charges filed alleging harassment?” - sometimes, people ask, specifically about sexual harassment charges being filed with the agency?

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and sometimes your employees make porn at work

Employees lose their jobs for lots of reason.

Including (allegedly) filming porn at work.

“Incredibles 2” is an incredible movie about working parenthood

Being a working parent is all about sacrifice. Not always being there for the small stuff. It might mean missing your daughter’s first date. Or not helping your son figure out his math homework. Or not experiencing your baby’s first word (or exhibition of superpowers).

For Elastagirl (aka Mrs. Incredible, aka Helen Parr) it means all of these things.

WIRTW #510 (the “communication breakdown” edition)

“Best Band I’ve ever heard!”
“You kids Rocked best band I’ve seen in long time. I would pay to see Fake ID again WOW”
“Could of listened to u all day. VERY IMPRESSED!”
“I was blown away by your talent! Very impressive!”

These are just a few of the comments made by folks who saw Fake ID play a killer hour-long set over the Memorial Day weekend at Ohio Bike Week. (I agree with all of the above comments, but I’m also a bit biased.)

If you are looking for something to do next Saturday evening, head to Crocker Park, in Cleveland’s western burbs, and check out Fake ID, which will be playing a free show from 5:30 – 7. They’ll be rocking the square in front of the Regal Cinema.

Here’s a taste of what you’ll see, from Ohio Bike Week.


Here’s what I read this week: