This week brings courtroom shakeups, leadership transitions and one very public reminder that documentation (still) matters. (ICYMI, I posted yesterday about the SCOTUS ruling below.) Grab your coffee—and maybe a fresh OneNote tab—because there’s a lot to unpack.
Welcome to the fourth edition of “This Week in Employee Relations,” your fast-scan digest of the employee relations headlines shaping policy, culture and compliance. Catch up in five minutes; walk into the week with the context—and the talking points—your organization expects.
⚖️ SCOTUS Revives Reverse Discrimination Case
What happened
The U.S. Supreme Court will allow a former New York public defender’s reverse discrimination case to proceed. She claims she was passed over for promotions in favor of LGBTQ and minority colleagues.
ER Insight
As I wrote on LinkedIn yesterday, “inclusion” doesn’t mean exclusion. This is your cue to double-check whether well-intended diversity efforts are backed by fair, consistent criteria—and airtight documentation.
🎯 Target Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
What happened
A former employee alleged ongoing harassment from a team leader and claimed retaliation after reporting it. Target settled the suit for an undisclosed amount.
ER Insight
When the headlines say “retaliation,” we all know where the breakdown happened (hint: documentation and follow-through).
🏰 Disney Reaches Tentative Settlement in Discrimination Suit
What happened
Disney has tentatively settled with the estate of a former employee who alleged age and disability discrimination before his death in 2021.
ER Insight
A tragic reminder that unresolved complaints don’t disappear when the employee does. Strong systems—and timely resolution—are everything.
📊 HBR: Women’s Workplace Abuse Claims Get Dismissed More Often
What happened
New HBR research shows women’s reports of workplace abuse are dismissed more often than men’s—especially in male-dominated orgs.
ER Insight
Want trust? Start with consistency. Every complaint deserves fair evaluation—not unconscious bias. The empowER community has great resources on this.
🕵️♀️ Washington Law Now Protects Identities in Workplace Investigations
What happened
A new amendment shields the names of complainants, witnesses and investigators in Washington state public records—a major privacy shift for workplace investigations.
ER Insight
Transparency matters—but so does safety. If you’re not protecting identities in your process, it’s time for a second look.
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