Topic: Employment Discrimination

Gay rights in America: How states stand on 7 hot-button issues

The tapestry of federal and state laws surrounding gay rights is enormously complex. Here is a look at each state's laws regarding issues ranging from gay marriage to hate crimes to hospital visitation. 

Battle for women's votes: 6 flash points

The uproar over the Obama campaign’s 'Life of Julia' Web infographic – which made #Julia big on Twitter – highlights just how fiercely both parties are fighting for the women’s vote. The economy is by far the most important issue in November for both sexes. But there are other areas with special significance to women. Here are the main flash points.

Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups

The Supreme Court decides unanimously that the First Amendment bars government interference in a religious group's decision to fire a minister. Critics say the ruling protects religious groups that fire people for the most venal reasons.

Supreme Court justices find government line in church-state case 'amazing'

The Supreme Court hears arguments in the case of a women who says she was discriminated against when she was fired from a religious school. The school claims First Amendment protections, but government lawyers are suggesting church-state concerns don't apply.

Wal-Mart v. Dukes ruling actually protects women – and all Americans

The Supreme Court ruling in Wal-Mart v. Dukes upheld key legal standards. Loosening the rules for bringing a class action sex discrimination suit could jeopardize the legal system that holds everyone equal in the eyes of the law.

Supreme Court: Hospital punished worker for being in Army Reserves

Vincent Staub said he was fired from his hospital job because his supervisors were hostile to his responsibilities in the Army Reserves. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously in his favor Tuesday.

Supreme Court: Man can sue firm that fired him in retaliation against fiancée

The Supreme Court ruling focuses on a case in which a woman filed a sex discrimination complaint against her employer, which three weeks later fired her fiancé. The justices said the fiancé can sue the employer for illegal retaliation.

Former covert CIA agent charged with leaking secrets to newspaper

The indictment of former CIA agent Jeffrey Sterling says he gave secrets to a reporter after becoming angry about the agency's unwillingness to send him on undercover assignments abroad.

Who are Egypt's Copts, and the Middle East's other Christian populations?

Recent attacks against Christians in Egypt and Iraq have drawn attention to the Middle East's Christian populations, which are dwindling as Christians flee violence, political strife, and persecution.

Muslim school teacher denied hajj, US sues Illinois school district

A middle school teacher in suburban Illinois was not permitted to perform the hajj, a once in a lifetime Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The US government says the school violated the teacher's civil rights.

Americans remain wary of Islam

Americans are conflicted over Islam as the FBI investigates a growing list of anti-Islamic incidents. Still, Muslims and their mosques are being welcomed in some communities.

Mosque debate: Behind America's anxiety over Islam

Controversy over the New York and other mosques underlines the struggle to balance values of religious tolerance with fears, real and imagined, in an age of terrorism.

Fired from Hollister for wearing the hijab?

A Muslim college student claims she was fired from a Bay Area branch of the clothing chain Hollister because the hijab she wears to cover her head violated the store's 'look policy.'

Obama signs bill expanding hate crimes to sexual orientation

Gay-rights groups welcomed the move, which expands hate-crime law to include crimes based on gender and sexual orientation. But some legal scholars suggest it's an overreach of federal power.

Supreme Court sets high bar for age-bias suits

Older workers bear the burden of proof to show age was key reason they were fired or demoted.

Old maternity leave won't count toward pensions, Supreme Court rules

AT&T's decision to exclude pregnancy leave taken before the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act from pensions today is not illegal discrimination, the court said.

Will high court make age-bias lawsuits easier or harder to win?

A case the justices heard Tuesday offers them an opportunity to decide the standard for proving illegal discrimination.

Barack and Michelle Obama lead celebration of new equal pay law

In boost for workers, high court affirms shield from employer retaliation

The justices rule that civil rights law protects a woman who was fired after answering questions in a harassment probe.

U.S. Supreme Court takes up 'reverse discrimination' case

White firefighters in New Haven, Conn., say the city should have considered test results.

USA

High court case: If harassed workers talk, can they be fired?

A Tennessee woman lost her job after she cooperated in a company investigation.

Women lawmakers, at convention, hammer pay equity issue

Citing hardship to women during the economic slump, they argue for legislation to strengthen protections against wage bias.

Workers can sue firms over retaliation, Supreme Court rules

In two rulings Tuesday, the justices took an expansive view of civil rights law.

Mother's Day money advice

Working mothers, faced with growing financial responsibilities, can take steps to lighten their load.