Employment Law & Title IX

Ohio School Administrators: Contract Abolishment Under R.C. 3319.171

R.C. 3319.171 governs the abolishment of school administrative positions through reductions in force. The procedural requirements, the bona-fide-versus-pretextual analysis borrowed from civil service case law, and what administrators facing position abolishment should know.

Teacher Free Speech: The Pickering-Garcetti Framework After Kennedy v. Bremerton

Public school teachers and administrators have First Amendment protection against retaliation, but the doctrine has been narrowed by Garcetti and reshaped by Kennedy v. Bremerton. The full framework with current Sixth Circuit case law.

R.C. 3319.16 and Ohio Teacher Termination: What the Statute Actually Requires

The Ohio statute governing tenured teacher termination has specific procedural and substantive requirements. The full framework, recent case law, and what teachers facing charges need to know.

EEOC Mediation: A Practical Guide for Employees

EEOC mediation is offered to most employees who file a charge. The decision to accept, how to prepare, and how to negotiate at the mediation matter more than most people realize.

Common Title IX Litigation Scenarios: A Practitioner's Overview

Title IX litigation runs on five recurring scenarios. A practitioner-oriented overview of complainant claims, respondent challenges, retaliation, and damages, with current Sixth Circuit and Supreme Court authority.

The OWBPA: Severance Agreement Requirements for Employees Over 40

The Older Workers Benefit Protection Act sets strict requirements for severance agreements offered to employees age 40 and older. When those requirements are not met, the ADEA waiver is void.

Ohio Public Employees: Rights Your Private-Sector Colleagues Don't Have

Public employees have constitutional and statutory protections private employees don't. Loudermill, First Amendment, Section 1983, FMLA. The framework in one place.

First Amendment Retaliation for Ohio Public Employees

Public employees can sue for retaliation over protected speech. The Pickering, Connick, Garcetti, and Lane framework walked through for Ohio practitioners.

The PUMP Act: Federal Lactation Rights in the Workplace

The PUMP Act expanded federal protections for nursing employees, covering break time, private space, and creating a private right of action with damages.

FMLA Rights for Pregnant and New Parent Employees

The FMLA provides 12 weeks of leave for pregnancy, childbirth, and bonding. How eligibility works and how it interacts with the PWFA, ADA, and Ohio law.

PWFA Litigation Update: The Status of the Abortion Provisions

How states have challenged the EEOC's PWFA final rule on abortion-related accommodations, the core legal questions, and what Ohio practitioners need to know.

Title IX 2020 vs 2024 Rules: A Side-by-Side Comparison

How the 2020 and 2024 Title IX rules differ on harassment definitions, hearings, cross-examination, and procedural rights. What applies now and why.

Title IX Coordinator Compliance in 2026: An Audit Guide

A 2026 audit guide for Title IX coordinators: policy review, training, athletics, parallel Title VI, and when to bring in outside investigators.

Title IX Policy Update: Where Things Stand in May 2026

Where Title IX stands as of May 2026, including the LAUSD investigation, current OCR enforcement priorities, pending Supreme Court cases, and forecasted federal rulemaking.

Title IX Regulations in 2026: Where Things Actually Stand

The 2024 Title IX rule was vacated nationwide in January 2025. Here is how we got here, what the 2020 framework now requires, and what to expect under the current administration.

Title IX Retaliation: What It Is and How It Is Proven

Retaliation against participants in a Title IX proceeding is itself a Title IX violation. Here is who is protected, what counts as retaliation, and how to prove a claim.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: What Ohio Employees Need to Know

The PWFA requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions. Here is how the law works and how to enforce it.

Section 1983 Claims for Public Employees: A Practical Overview

42 U.S.C. § 1983 lets public employees sue government employers for constitutional violations. Here is how the statute works and how it differs from Title VII.

What Is a Title IX Hearing and What Should You Expect?

The Title IX hearing is the most consequential stage of the grievance process. Here is how it works, who is present, and how to prepare effectively.

Respondents in Title IX Proceedings: What You Need to Know

Being named a respondent in a Title IX proceeding is one of the most disorienting experiences a student or employee can face.

What Happens After a Title IX Finding of Responsibility?

A Title IX finding is serious but not necessarily final. Here is what sanctions are possible, how to appeal, and what external options remain.

Severance Agreements and Negotiation: What Ohio Employees Need to Know

Severance agreements are almost always negotiable. Here is what to look for, what to push back on, and how to use your legal claims as leverage.

Can You Appeal a Title IX Decision?

Both parties in a Title IX proceeding have the right to appeal. Here is when an appeal makes sense, what grounds are available, and how the process works.

Title IX and Study Abroad: What Happens When Misconduct Occurs Overseas

Title IX can apply to study abroad programs, but jurisdiction and investigation get complicated quickly. Here is what students need to know.

Title IX and Athletics: What Student Athletes Need to Know

Student athletes face unique Title IX pressures as complainants and respondents. Here is what is at stake and how the athletic context changes the process.

FMLA in Ohio: What Employees Need to Know

The FMLA gives eligible Ohio employees up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave. Here is who qualifies, what it covers, and what to do if your employer interferes or retaliates.

Title IX and Faculty: What Professors and Staff Need to Know

Faculty and staff face unique Title IX risks as respondents, complainants, and mandatory reporters. Here is what everyone working in higher education needs to understand.

I Received a Title IX Notice: What Does It Mean and What Should I Do?

Receiving a Title IX notice marks the start of a formal process with real consequences. Here is what to know and what to do first.

Retaliation in the Workplace: What It Is and How to Prove It in Ohio

Retaliation is one of the most common employment claims in Ohio. Here is what counts as protected activity, what qualifies as an adverse action, and how to build your case.

What Is a Right to Sue Letter and What Do You Do With It?

Receiving a right to sue letter from the EEOC opens a strict 90-day window to file suit. Here is what it means and what to do immediately after you receive one.

Title IX Informal Resolution: What It Is and When It Makes Sense

Informal resolution is an alternative to the full Title IX grievance process. Here is how it works, who can use it, and what to consider before agreeing to participate.

Pregnancy Discrimination in the Ohio Workplace

Pregnant employees and new mothers have significant legal protections, including under the PUMP Act. Here is what the law covers and what to do if your employer crosses the line.

Title IX and K-12 Schools: How It Differs from Higher Education

Title IX applies to K-12 schools, but the process looks different than at colleges and universities. Here is what students, parents, and administrators need to know.

What Is a Loudermill Hearing?

Public employees facing termination have constitutional rights before a final decision is made. Here is what a Loudermill hearing involves and why it matters.

The Difference Between a Title IX Advisor and an Attorney

Anyone can serve as a Title IX advisor. But there are significant practical differences between a non-attorney advisor and an attorney, and those differences can affect your outcome.

Can My Employer Fire Me for Any Reason in Ohio?

Ohio is at-will, but that does not mean your employer can fire you for any reason. Here is what the law actually protects.

What Is a Title IX Investigation and How Does It Work?

A plain-language explanation of what a Title IX investigation involves, what to expect at each stage, and how the process ends.

What Happens After You File an EEOC Charge?

Filing a charge is just the beginning. Here is what to expect from the EEOC process, how long it takes, and what your options are at each stage.

What Is a Hostile Work Environment and When Is It Illegal?

Not every unpleasant workplace meets the legal standard. An Ohio employment attorney explains what the law actually requires.

What to Do When You're Asked to Sign a Severance Agreement

Before you sign, there are things you need to know. What to look for, what to negotiate, and when not to sign without legal advice.

Title IX for Employees at Colleges and Universities

Title IX protects employees, not just students. What faculty and staff need to know about the process and the stakes.

The Role of a Title IX Advisor: Why It Matters More Than You Think

Having an experienced advisor isn't optional. Here's what a Title IX advisor actually does and why it matters for both complainants and respondents.

Title IX and Graduate Students: What You Need to Know

Graduate students face unique Title IX challenges. High stakes, complex power dynamics, and consequences that extend well beyond the proceeding itself.

Non-Compete Agreements in Ohio 2026: What Workers Need to Know

The FTC's nationwide ban is dead. Here's what that means for Ohio employees and what protections still exist.