Week in review: Judge says ‘Karen’ comment did not establish discrimination - Cloud and enterprise technology

A federal judge ruled that a White employee did not show that being called “Karen” constituted race or disability discrimination, while other coverage examined rising living costs, workplace ghosting and longer workdays among heavy AI users.

A federal judge in New York granted summary judgment to an employer in a case involving a White employee who alleged that a co-worker’s reference to her as “Karen” amounted to discrimination based on race and disability. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York held that the plaintiff had not identified an adverse employment action resulting from the alleged conduct, rejecting her claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The Ludwig Institute for Shared Economic Prosperity reported that the cost of living increased 4.7% in 2024. That compares with an average annual increase of about 3.2% since 2005. LISEP said sharp increases in childcare and healthcare costs have continued to pressure workers, even as wages have risen.

Job applicants are also reporting more instances of employers failing to follow up after interviews. Glassdoor said references to “ghosting” in interview reviews were up 2% year over year through September. The company attributed part of the increase to the term becoming more common: 23% of reviews in 2019 that complained about employer silence mentioned ghosting, compared with 56% in 2026, according to Daniel Zhao, Glassdoor’s chief economist.

An analysis from the ActivTrak Productivity Lab found that heavy AI users can have workdays up to 90 minutes longer than those of nonusers. These workers reportedly switch between applications more often and have fewer uninterrupted focus sessions, despite attending fewer meetings. ActivTrak said the findings may indicate that employees are not receiving sufficient guidance on how to use AI effectively.

On workplace accommodations, Book Law senior partner Chaim Book emphasized the importance of documentation and a genuine interactive process under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In an opinion piece, Book said employers should document their engagement with employees, request supporting information about cited medical issues when appropriate, and understand the essential functions of a role before making accommodation decisions. He also stressed the need to treat employees with respect.

Sources: HR Dive.