On October 14, 2025, Cuyahoga County became the first county in Ohio to pass its own version of the CROWN Act, expanding local anti-discrimination protections to include natural hairstyles. The ordinance prohibits discrimination based on hair texture and protective...
Labor & Employment
Sixth Circuit Reaffirms Temporal Proximity Rule In Discrimination Cases
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently reaffirmed that temporal proximity, the closeness in time between an employee’s protected activity and an adverse employment action, is not, by itself, enough to prove unlawful discrimination or retaliation. Two...
The “No Tax on Tips” Rule Under the One Big Beautiful Bill: Key Takeaways for Employers
Overview The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), enacted July 4, 2025, introduces a highly publicized provision exempting certain tips from federal income tax. Framed as relief for service-industry workers, the measure in practice functions as a deduction for “qualified...
Cleveland City Council Passes New Pay Transparency and Salary History Ordinance
Update – October 27,2025 – As of October 27, 2025, the Cleveland Salary Transparency Act is now in effect. Cleveland Employers should ensure they are in compliance by including clear salary ranges or scales in their job postings, removing salary history inquiries from...
When the Office Party Haunts You: Reminders, Risks & Best Practices for Dress Codes and Harassment Policies
With October upon us, many employers may soon be hosting fun seasonal outings, offsite mixers, costume contests or festive dress days. But just as every haunted house has a monster behind the next corner, these events can harbor unexpected legal risks, particularly...
Sixth Circuit Revives Pregnancy Bias Claim Over Hospital Supervisor’s Remarks
The Sixth Circuit recently emphasized the importance of how supervisors manage pregnancy-related accommodations and workplace communications. Background Jackilyn Bunnell, a hospital ultrasonographer, told her supervisor that she was pregnant and requested certain...
FTC Abandons Biden-ERA Non-Compete Rule
On September 5, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission dismissed its appeals in Ryan, LLC v. FTC, (5th Cir.), and Properties of the Villages v. FTC, (11th Cir.), and accepted the nullification of the Biden administration’s Non-Compete Rule. At first glance, this means the...
Workforce Planning in Ohio: Compliance Challenges Under the New Mini-WARN Statute
This article was updated on October 3, 2025, to reflect that Ohio’s newly enacted “mini-WARN” statute has officially taken effect. As of September 29, 2025, Ohio employers face new obligations under the state’s recently enacted “mini-WARN” statute. Building on the...
Sixth Circuit Requires Employer Intent for Customer Sexual Harassment Under Title VII
The Sixth Circuit in Bivens v. Zep, Inc. brushed aside the EEOC’s and several circuit court positions with respect to the standard to be used when determining an employer’s liability under Title VII for sexual harassment of its employee by a customer and instituted a...
Removing the “Human” from Human Resources: How AI is Reshaping HR
IBM CEO Arvind Krishna recently reported that the company is using AI agents to take over work that had previously been done by several hundred HR employees. Specifically, IBM’s “AskHR” agent has automated 94% of simple tasks like vacation requests and pay statements....