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☆ Miss America, Miss World: NY woman challenges rules banning mothers from pageants
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York AP —A New York woman is challenging the longstanding rules of Miss America and Miss World that disqualify mothers from their beauty pageants. Joe Frederick/APSpokespersons for the Miss America and Miss World pageant organizations didn’t immediately respond to emails seeking comment Monday. A spokesperson for the human rights commission said the agency does not comment on open investigations. Allred noted that she previously had success challenging a similar rule for a California mother denied eligibility to compete in the Miss California pageant, which is part of the Miss Universe and Miss USA organizations. Didusenko, who has since created an organization advocating for an end to beauty pageant bans on mothers, said she lost her legal challenge in Ukraine but is seeking relief from the European Court of Human Rights.

Persons: Danielle Hazel, she’s, Zion, ”, Gloria Allred, Danielle‘s, Danielle, ” Allred, Veronika Didusenko, Joe Frederick, didn’t, Allred, Andrea Quiroga, “, Didusenko Organizations: York AP, Miss America, Miss, Women’s, city’s, Human Rights, Miss USA, California Civil Rights Department, Miss Ukraine, European, of Human Rights Locations: York, New, New York, California, Miss California, Ukraine

☆ Microsoft reaches settlement in California over claims it punished employees for taking protected time off
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-03 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft is paying $14.4 million to settle a case in California over allegations that the company retaliated against employees who had taken legally protected time off. Within core Microsoft, women represented 31.2% of the workforce in 2023, up from 27.6% in 2019, according to the company's latest diversity report. Employees have reported feeling worried about retaliation after asking for protected leave, according to the California complaint. As part of the settlement, Microsoft will provide training to direct and second-level managers of staff members in California and to human-resources employees who deal with their bonuses and merit increases. Managers will also be instructed not to consider time off for protected leave when making "impact" decisions.

Persons: Microsoft's, Microsoft didn't, Satya Nadella, Mustafa Suleyman Organizations: Microsoft, Mobile, California's Civil Rights Department, Employees Locations: Barcelona, California, Redmond , Washington

☆ Activision Blizzard agrees to settle California case alleging discrimination against women
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-16 | by ( Jordan Novet | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Microsoft -owned Activision Blizzard has agreed to settle a case from a California state agency that alleged the video game publisher discriminated against women, including denying them promotion opportunities and paying them less. The news comes almost two years after Activision Blizzard settled a case from the U.S. Shares fell, and Microsoft subsequently began talks to acquire Activision Blizzard, the maker of Call of Duty. The agency will file a new complaint that excludes prior harassment allegations, according to the proposed settlement agreement, which CNBC viewed. WATCH: Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick: We always believed the deal would get through

Persons: Bobby Kotick Organizations: Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, Civil Rights Department, U.S, Opportunity Commission, of Fair, Housing, Wall Street Journal, Activision, Federal Trade Commission, CNBC Locations: California, U.S, Europe, San Francisco, Los Angeles

☆ At unicorn startup Carta, a culture of absolute fealty to an erratic and vindictive CEO, employees say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +17 min

Both men remained valued employees at Carta, with the sales representative even getting promoted just weeks after the alleged "helicopter penis" incident, according to former employees. CEO Henry Ward cofounded Carta, originally called eShares, in 2012 as a service for startups to digitize their paper stock certificates. Today Carta helps startups track their investors, employees manage their equity awards, and venture capitalists administer their funds. The lawsuit says that 10 days after Rogers filed her complaint, Ward "began treating Ms. Rogers in an aggressive and demeaning manner during several meetings." Many of the employees who have spoken out publicly about Carta and Ward have found themselves embroiled in expensive legal battles.

Persons: Lisa Whittaker, Whittaker, Jerry Talton, David Kim, Andrea Lamari, Kim, Henry Ward, Andreessen Horowitz, Ward, Henry, Alex Kurland, Carta, Peter Thiel, Simon Cowell, Talton's, Suzanne Elovic, Elovic, Lamari, Jeff Perry, Perry, salespeople, JT Goodman, Goodman, Goodman didn't, Jeff Perrry, Allie Rogers, Rogers, Rodgers, Rachel Mayes, Ward doesn't, Mayes, Jeff, Jeff Perry countersued, Orrick Herrington, Sutcliffe, Kleiner Perkins, Ellen Pao, Amanda Sheets, Sheets, Pushback, Lindauer, Whitaker, Whittaker wasn't, Barbara Byrne, Byrne, Talton, Joe Osnoss, Osnoss, Heidi Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Carta, UBS, Gold Club, Lightspeed, California Civil Rights Department, Meritech, YouTube, Win, York Stock Exchange, San, San Francisco Superior, San Francisco Superior Court, Barclays, Lehman Brothers, Montana Human Rights Bureau Locations: San Francisco, Brazil, Silicon Valley, California, Palo, Iranian, Lindauer, Silver, Montana

Tesla has failed to investigate complaints of racist conduct and has fired or otherwise retaliated against workers who reported harassment, the EEOC said in the lawsuit. The lawsuit adds federal charges to discrimination claims by the state of California and lawsuits by Tesla employees. It follows the breakdown of settlement talks with the EEOC after Tesla announced that the agency had formally raised its concerns last year. The department alleges that Tesla discriminated against Black workers when making decisions about pay, promotions and work assignments. Tesla is also facing a class action lawsuit in California state court over the alleged mistreatment of Black factory workers.

Persons: Tesla, Charlotte Burrows, Stephen Lam, Burrows, ”, Owen Diaz, Diaz, Black, Daniel Wiessner, Leslie Adler, Daniel Wallis, Alexia Garamfalvi, Aurora Ellis Organizations: Tesla, U.S, Tesla Inc, Opportunity Commission, Motorists, REUTERS, California Civil Rights Department, Thomson Locations: Fremont , California, U.S, California, Fremont, Black, Albany , New York

In the new lawsuit, Goode claims that over the course of 2022 the white regional manager made a series of offensive comments. Goode claims that last October the manager blocked him from interviewing for a promotion that ultimately went to a white worker. Tesla company policy does not set a deadline for the reports, Goode claims. The lawsuit, which alleges violations of California and federal laws banning workplace race discrimination and retaliation, seeks damages for lost wages and benefits and emotional distress and punitive damages. Tesla has denied wrongdoing in those cases and has said the lawsuit by the California Civil Rights Department was politically motivated.

[1/2] The Tesla factory is seen in Fremont, California, U.S. June 22, 2018. California state judges typically issue tentative rulings ahead of hearings, but can make changes to those rulings when issuing final decisions. If the agency did not adequately probe certain claims against Tesla before suing, the electric carmaker could seek to have them removed from the case. The agency claims that Tesla's Fremont, California, plant is a racially segregated workplace where Black employees have been harassed and discriminated against in job assignments, discipline and pay. “You don’t get to inquire into the most minute details,” Grillo said.

Companies Tesla Inc FollowMarch 14 (Reuters) - A California civil rights agency suing Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) over alleged widespread race discrimination at its flagship assembly plant must detail the investigation it conducted prior to filing the lawsuit, a judge has ruled. The tentative ruling on Monday by California Superior Court Judge Evelio Grillo in Oakland could give Tesla an opportunity to narrow the lawsuit filed last year by the state Civil Rights Department. If the agency did not probe certain claims against Tesla before suing, the electric carmaker could seek to have them removed from the case. The Civil Rights Department and a Tesla representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Several other lawsuits are pending in California courts that accuse Tesla of tolerating discrimination and sexual harassment at its factories.

☆ Elon Musk calls US media and schools 'racist against whites & Asians'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( Lora Kolodny | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Tesla Chief Executive Office Elon Musk speaks at his company's factory in Fremont, California. In the video, Adams discussed a poll conducted by right-leaning Rasmussen Reports that said 26% of Black respondents disagreed with the statement "It's OK to be white." In his video, Adams called Black people who rejected that phrase as a "hate group." He then added, "For a *very* long time, US media was racist against non-white people, now they're racist against whites & Asians. Musk claimed that the media coverage is "Very disproportionate to promote a false narrative."

☆ $7 billion startup Carta has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits with former employees. Allegations in legal documents depict a CEO who can be retaliatory and volatile.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Carta, a Silicon Valley darling valued at more than $7 billion, has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits with former employees that named Henry Ward, its CEO and cofounder. Meanwhile, the company is separately suing Jerry Talton, the chief technology officer whom it fired and who was deposed as a witness in the Kramer case. Carta alleges he made secret recordings of company executives and shared them with former female employees who were in legal disputes with the company. And now that the Kramer case has been settled, the complaints from other employees included in the lawsuit may never see the light of day. Lawyers for Talton are expected to file an answer to the company's lawsuit by March 15.

☆ Shake Shack agreed to pay $20,000 to an ex-employee who said he was repeatedly asked 'to explain his gender to co-workers'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Nancy Luna | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Shake Shack is a New York fast-food chain known for its premium burgers and custard shakes. An ex-employee in California said he was constantly asked "to explain his gender to co-workers." The state's Civil Rights Department investigated, which led to a $20,000 settlement. "Creating a welcoming and fulfilling environment for all our employees and guests is critical," a Shake Shack spokesperson told Insider in a statement. Shake Shake is a fast food chain that sells burgers, fries, and custard shakes.

A judge in Oakland, California, in a tentative ruling late Tuesday dismissed Tesla's counter-suit claiming the agency did not notify the company of the bias allegations or give it a chance to settle before suing it last February. A Tesla representative and the agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The agency argues that Tesla's Fremont, California, plant is a racially segregated workplace where Black employees have been harassed and discriminated against over job assignments, discipline and pay. Several lawsuits are pending in California courts that accuse Tesla of tolerating discrimination and sexual harassment at its factories. A state judge in April cut a jury award to a Black worker who alleged racial harassment from $137 million to $15 million.

"The production companies and producers ignored harassment on set, failed to act despite multiple complaints, and fired crew members for complaining about the harassment," the release added. The state civil rights department went on to investigate the claims. "Criminal Minds" ran for 15 seasons on CBS before moving over to the Paramount+ streaming service last month under the new title "Criminal Minds: Evolution." The popular series has spawned two short-lived CBS spinoff shows, "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" and "Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders." In the summer of 2016, former "Criminal Minds" star Thomas Gibson was fired from the program days after he was suspended for a reported altercation with a producer during filming.

☆ A pay transparency law recently went into effect in New York City. Here are the other cities and states with similar legislation, and what workers there should know.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

CaliforniaGetty ImagesUnder the Pay Transparency for Pay Equity Act, which takes effect at the start of 2023, California employers will need to include reasonable salary ranges on job postings and keep job title and compensation records for each employee for as long as they're employed there and for three years afterwards. Private employers with 100 or more employees must also submit a yearly report to the state's Civil Rights Department disclosing median and average hourly pay rates for each job category by race, ethnicity, and sex.

☆ Tesla Countersues California Agency That Filed Racial Discrimination Lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( Meghan Bobrowsky | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A lawsuit filed earlier this year against Tesla alleged the company, for years, ignored complaints from Black factory workers at its Fremont, Calif., plant. Tesla has countersued the California agency that filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the company, alleging that the government organization violated state law in bringing about the suit. The electric-vehicle maker, in the suit filed Thursday in Alameda County Superior Court, said the California Civil Rights Department—previously known as the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing—violated state rules by filing the lawsuit without seeking public comment or holding a public hearing.

The Tesla factory is seen in Fremont, California, U.S. June 22, 2018. REUTERS/Stephen Lam/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterCompanies Tesla Inc FollowSept 22 (Reuters) - Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) on Thursday countersued the California agency that has accused the electric carmaker of tolerating widespread race discrimination at its flagship assembly plant. Tesla had made similar claims in a bid to dismiss the California agency's lawsuit, which was denied by a state judge last month. The CRD claims Tesla's flagship Fremont, California, plant is a racially segregated workplace where Black employees faced racist slurs and graffiti and were discriminated against in terms of job assignments, discipline and pay. Austin, Texas-based Tesla is also facing a series of race and sex discrimination cases by workers, most involving the Fremont plant.

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