The ADA Turns 25

July 26 marked twenty-five years since the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The legislation was comprehensive, aiming to protect individuals from discrimination in employment (Title I), public services (Title II), and places of public accommodations (Title III). Congress hoped to remove obstacles to employment, especially those based on stereotypes or stigmatization. Although the ADA has helped to open many doors, work remains to be done to ensure […]

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A Primer on EEOC’s Updated Guidance Regarding Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace

EEOC Issues New Guidance on Pregnancy Discrimination* On July 14, 2014, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued its “Enforcement Guidance on Pregnancy Discrimination and Related Issues,” the first comprehensive update since 1983.[1] EEOC Chair Jacqueline A. Berrien explained that “[d]espite much progress, . . . [EEOC] investigations have revealed the persistence of overt pregnancy discrimination, as well as the emergence of more subtle discriminatory practices.”[2] The EEOC offers […]

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Marriage Equality Arrives for Oregonians!

A federal court has ruled that Oregon’s laws excluding gay and lesbian couples from marriage are unconstitutional.  The ruling came in two consolidated cases, where several Oregon couples sued for the right to marry their partner of the same gender.  Under its state statutes and state constitution, Oregon had explicitly defined marriage as a between a man and a woman.  As a result, gay and lesbian couples have not been able to wed […]

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