Justin Cassera is a student at Harvard Law School.
In today’s news and commentary, Starbucks announces a new wave of layoffs and the EEOC sues Walmart over disability bias at a Wisconsin store.
On Thursday, Starbucks announced plans to lay off 900 employees and close hundreds of locations as the company continues to struggle. The company says that 1% of locations, roughly 200 stores, in Canada and the U.S. will close before a strategic refocus on renovations and new openings. The news follows a similar February announcement that saw 1,100 terminations. While the company maintains this is part of the turnaround plan led by CEO Brian Niccol, the firm’s efforts to succeed in an extremely competitive market are being hampered by its prices, labor disputes, and perceived support of Israel’s conduct in Gaza. Starbucks hopes that a combination of faster drinks, no upcharges for non-dairy milks, and a simpler menu will help them retain and expand their dominant footprint in the American coffee landscape.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is suing Walmart over alleged violations of civil rights laws due to the company’s refusal to accommodate intellectually disabled employees. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin on Thursday, alleges that Walmart’s Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin location harassed two intellectually disabled employees via namecalling and other conduct that engendered a hostile work environment. The lawsuit comes after a failed attempt by the EEOC to reach a pre-litigation settlement.
Daily News & Commentary
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February 24
In today’s news and commentary, the NLRB uses the Obama-era Browning-Ferris standard, a fired National Park ranger sues the Department of Interior and the National Park Service, the NLRB closes out Amazon’s labor dispute on Staten Island, and OIRA signals changes to the Biden-era independent contractor rule. The NLRB ruled that Browning-Ferris Industries jointly employed […]
February 23
In today’s news and commentary, the Trump administration proposes a rule limiting employment authorization for asylum seekers and Matt Bruenig introduces a new LLM tool analyzing employer rules under Stericycle. Law360 reports that the Trump administration proposed a rule on Friday that would change the employment authorization process for asylum seekers. Under the proposed rule, […]
February 22
A petition for certiorari in Bivens v. Zep, New York nurses end their historic six-week-strike, and Professor Block argues for just cause protections in New York City.
February 20
An analysis of the Board's decisions since regaining a quorum; 5th Circuit dissent criticizes Wright Line, Thryv.
February 19
Union membership increases slightly; Washington farmworker bill fails to make it out of committee; and unions in Argentina are on strike protesting President Milei’s labor reform bill.
February 18
A ruling against forced labor in CO prisons; business coalition lacks standing to challenge captive audience ban; labor unions to participate in rent strike in MN