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

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

Springing noncompete restrictions on job applicantsCVS Pharmacy Inc. sued online pharmacy retailer Capital Rx Inc., claiming the web-based business is trying to keep a former employee from working for CVS. The lawsuit, filed on 9/16/2021, claims Capital Rx’s noncompete agreement violates Massachusetts law.

Why It Matters:

CVS’ lawsuit highlights an all-too-common issue new hires often face – the surprise non-compete

Dreadlock race discrimination A Michigan bill to amend Michigan’s principal anti-discrimination statute to explicitly ban race-based hair discrimination, e.g., prohibiting discrimination based on hair texture and style, has stalled in the state legislature.

Specifically, Michigan House Bill 4275, also called the CROWN Act (an acronym standing for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair), was introduced

Vaccine MandateThis past week Trinity Health announced it would require its employees and contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Under a rolling schedule, current employees must comply with the policy by September 21. People hired after September 1 must be vaccinated within 14 days.

Trinity’s announcement follows Henry Ford Health System’s decision announced in June that