Employee noncompete restrictions are supposed to provide a company with a means to preserve its legitimate competitive interests when an employment relationship ends. But they can also be used by unscrupulous employers to make demands that outside of the guardrails of the judicial system would resemble extortion.

This post discusses a recent example of arguably

Twitter trade secret lawsuit

Twitter made headlines last week with its threat to sue Meta over the launch of its competing service called “Threads.” This incident serves as a reminder that protecting trade secrets and avoiding becoming a defendant in a misappropriation lawsuit is vital to running any business.

Going Deeper:

According to Twitter’s letter to Meta, it

In June, Michigan passed anti-discrimination legislation that makes hair discrimination illegal.

CROWN Act prohibits hair discrimination

This new law, officially known as the “CROWN Act” (Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair), amends the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) to expand the definition of race to ban hair discrimination. It prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or type.

Beginning April 11, 2023, some felonies and misdemeanors will be automatically expunged after a certain amount of time under Michigan’s Clean Slate Act. The Law also makes more people in Michigan eligible for expungement through an application process.

Criminal Background Checks and Brian White Embezzlement Example

Andrea Sahouri for the Detroit Free Press explained what convictions are eligible for expungement and details for

LGBT Employment Discrimination

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled yesterday in a 5-2 decision that Michigan’s main civil rights statute, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. This means ELCRA’s anti-discrimination protections extend to LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) Michiganders.

Going Deeper:

The Michigan Supreme Court decision stems from a lawsuit, Rouch World LLC

On June 9, 2022, Tyson Foods and its subsidiary, The Hillshire Brands Company, were sued over alleged employment discrimination. The lawsuit is by a former employee, Redina Hayslett, who claims she was terminated after refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds.

Why it Matters:

We previously predicted companies should prepare for a litigation trend over

Magic Mushrooms and workplace discriminationLast week Amazon was sued over alleged employment law violations. The lawsuit asserts the plaintiff was unlawfully terminated after reporting a co-worker for using mushrooms that naturally contained an active but illegal psychoactive chemical called psilocybin.

Why it Matters:

Psilocybin and similar psychedelic compounds are considered Schedule I substances. This means they are illegal under

Workplace StressThe Michigan Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) established a dedicated workgroup to focus on mental health, trauma, and resiliency in the workplace. The workgroup recently released its findings. The report also offers strategies for employers to help build supportive workplaces by integrating employee mental health strategies that establish healthier workplaces, enhance employee wellbeing

Trade secret misappropriationA recently filed trade secret misappropriation lawsuit in the Michigan Eastern District Federal Court is a good reminder for both employers and individuals about the dangers stemming from not protecting or wrongfully using confidential or trade secret information.

Going Deeper:

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Van Dyke Horn LLC, a public relations company.