Equal Pay Act Upheld in 4th Circuit Decision
Last Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled in favor of Equal Pay Act claims made by The Noble Law’s client Tracy Sempowich, represented by partner Katie Abernethy. A lower court had ruled that Sempowich’s claims were not valid, because even though her salary was lower than a male coworker, she had earned more commission than him and had a higher total compensation. Joined by the EEOC, Katie argued that this was a misreading of the …
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Stand Up for Workers PAC
As part of her efforts to catalyze positive changes in employment law and society, managing partner Laura Noble serves on the board of directors of Stand Up for Workers, a political action committee focused on defending and expanding the basic rights of the American worker. The group strives to elect representatives who support legislation regarding those rights, from fair wages to equitable and dignified treatment in the workplace. One of the key components of the group’s work is to ensure that workers have access to …
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Employment Law: “No Vaccine Required” Job Postings
On November 17, 2021, employment attorney and partner at The Noble Law Katie Abernethy was interviewed on WRAL News to discuss the meaning of a growing trend in online employment listings – a “no vaccine required” component. If you are facing an employment law matter, head to our consultation page to learn more about your options. Gerald Owens, WRAL: If you search job postings on Indeed, you’ll find some companies advertising their open positions as a “no vaccine required” job. …
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Leadership and Legal Services: Running an Employment Law Firm
This month, Laura Noble and executive coach, Karen Tax, explore what what leadership looks like in an employment law firm. When she passed the North Carolina Bar exam in 2008, Laura Noble had no intention of starting her own employment law firm. Having left the workforce to raise three children, Laura returned to a job market that was unwilling to employ her. Seven years as a full-time mother did not serve her legal career’s cohesive narrative, creating what other firms …
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Katie Abernethy Argues Equal Pay Act in 4th Circuit
Last week, The Noble Law’s Partner, Katie Abernethy, argued in federal court on behalf of Tracy Sempowich, a regional sales manager for Tactile Systems Technology. She made the case before the Fourth Circuit United States Court of Appeals, arguing that lower court used an incorrect test when it rejected Ms. Sempowich’s Equal Pay Act claim. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) also appeared on behalf of Ms. Sempowich. Bloomberg Law’s Patrick Dorrian shined light on the argument in his article …
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The Noble Law Now Assists with Title IX
Gender discrimination and sexual harassment can and do exist outside of the workplace. Title IX is a federal civil rights law that simply states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” The Noble Law’s New York office is proud to provide representation for those in New York State who believe they need legal assistance in …
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President Biden’s Vaccine Mandate Undergoes OSHA Approval
Katie Abernethy, employment attorney and partner with The Noble Law, appeared on WRAL News to discuss the implications that OSHA approval could have on President Biden’s vaccine mandate in North Carolina. Debra Morgan: We’re joined by attorney Katie Abernethy from Noble Law to talk about what those changes mean for companies and workers. Katie, this approval process usually takes years, but, in this case, approval could come in just days. Will that change the roll out and how companies enact …
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Symptoms, Stigmas, and Solutions: Menopause in the Workplace
Menopause is an uncomfortable topic for many, particularly in the workplace. In a society that disproportionately condemns signs of aging in women, it can be difficult to acknowledge the onset of menopause to oneself, let alone supervisors or coworkers. Moreover, when a woman’s merits as an employee are directly linked to her experience and seniority, this pressure to maintain her youth seemingly contradicts the requirements she needs to continue advancing in her career. In this month’s episode of Worksights, Laura …
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Duke University’s Vaccine Mandate
The Noble Law’s employment attorney and partner Katie Abernethy appeared on WRAL News last week to discuss the outcome of Duke University’s vaccine mandate, and how this might affect other employers in North Carolina. Gerald Owens: The deadline for Duke University’s 22,000 employees to comply with the COVID-19 vaccine mandate is Friday, or they will ultimately be fired. This was a bold move for Durham county’s largest employer, to require vaccines early on. WRAL’s reporter, Sarah Krueger, joins us live …
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FIFA Investigates Allegations against former NC Courage Coach
Last Friday, October 1st, managing partner and employment attorney at The Noble Law, Laura Noble, appeared on WRAL News to discuss FIFA’s recently announced investigation of former NC Courage Coach, Paul Riley. Riley was let go on Thursday, September 30th, after players of the women’s soccer team alleged multiple instances of sexual harassment against Riley, and the league announced an investigation of the former head coach shortly after. Debra Morgan: Well, here’s a closer look at what the former head …
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