employment policies

Despite the cutbacks resulting from the Great Recession, more employers than ever are finding reasons to adopt policies that make workplaces better for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, according to a recent Human Rights Campaign Foundation survey.

A controversial group is asking Walt Disney shareholders to adopt non-discrimination language against "ex-gays" at the company's annual meeting. Disney is fighting the move, saying its policies already provide appropriate protection for employees.

Wal-Mart agreed to pay $40 million to settle a lawsuit filed in Massachusetts that alleged the big-box retailer cheated 87,500 current and former employees in the state out of pay and failed to obey work rules. The class-action suit, filed in 2001, accused Wal-Mart of altering time cards, refusing to pay overtime, and denying workers rest and meal breaks.