Boeing Settles Another Bias Suit
Aerospace giant Boeing has agreed to pay $4.5 million to end discrimination against women and minorities, less than three months after settling a bias lawsuit brought by black employees. In an agreement with the U.S. Labor Department, the money will go for back pay and future raises. The settlement means that Boeing will not lose its current government contracts.

New Workplace Safety Rules Draw Fire
The long-awaited new workplace safety rules have been released by the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration -- and business leaders are not pleased. Business groups are threatening court action to block the new guidelines, meant to protect U.S. workers from repetitive-stress injuries such as back pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. The new rules would not go into effect until next year.

Business Students' Salary Reach May Exceed Their Grasp
Starting salaries of $50,000 or more are expected by 42% of the 1,743 students responding to a recent online poll -- up from 17% a year ago. Most students who responded were accounting or business majors. The reality: The average starting salary they can expect is $35,668.

Fired Workers Sue for Stock Options
A recent court decision in New Jersey awarded a fired employee the stock options he would have received in future years, opening the door for what employment experts say is a growing feature of employment-related lawsuits. Employees who feel they have been wrongfully discriminated against or fired are more and more likely to seek not only the wages they've lost but the opportunity to buy company stock at a fixed price. The trend is alarming technology companies, which often offer new employees stock options instead of high salaries.