Huntington Beach Law Blog

Temple Grandin, a renowned professor of animal science at Colorado State University, said "the world needs all kinds of minds" in her Ted Talk back in 2013. Ms. Grandin, like many others across the United States, lives with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), which is previously known as autism. The disorder is difficult to characterize because individual cases vary greatly. Some common behaviors of ASD include social awkwardness, sensitivity to external stimuli and repeated actions or body motions.

Despite what you may hear, the disorder is not always debilitating. In fact, some people on the spectrum have heightened levels of intelligence and abilities. Some of the world's most brilliant and respected individuals like Bill Gates, Tim Burton, Susan Boyle, and Albert Einstein all have ASD. Unfortunately, most people on the spectrum have a hard time finding jobs. According to Market Watch, nearly 85% of college graduates with ASD are unemployed, and it's not because they lack ability. The interview process and social nuances of the modern workplace can be a nightmare for some with ASD, which makes it harder for them to find or keep a job despite their versatile talents.

Some of the most beautiful properties in California are unfortunately in areas prone to fires and other human-made or natural disasters. Those who wish and can afford to build there nevertheless still want to avoid receiving money property losses – there has been $170 billion paid in property losses here in the U.S. since 2016. With climate change a reality, that number is likely to continue to rise. This has led insurers to get involved with the planning and building of properties.

Do insurers do that?

Diversity in the workplace is crucial to the overall health of the business. Along with race, gender, age, and life experience, the company’s manager or human resources department needs to consider a diversity of type. Some companies are known for a competitive work environment that fosters a certain kind of personality, while other companies have creative thinkers who focus on innovation.

According to employment expert, this kind of “type-casting” to find a good fit with who is already there can hurt a business. There are many paths to the right solution to a particular problem, some may take the direct route and others may get lost in the woods, but traveling the same roads involves the same assumptions and same decision-making process. This can mean less dynamic problem-solving.

The United States Women’s Soccer Team won their second straight World Cup in dominating fashion. Not only did they win, but they also became high-profile spokespersons for many social issues but particularly in the area of equal pay for women. This issue has been simmering for some time with an initial lawsuit by five players in 2016 on the topic. It reemerged International Women’s Day on March 8 when it filed a class action against U.S. Soccer Federation for making less money than the male players despite ongoing success at the highest levels. The suit was set aside until after the World Cup so the team could concentrate on their play, then the plan was to mediate the dispute.

Mediation breaks down