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Discrimination / Harassment

Comments about employee’s age don’t always add up to discrimination

08/04/2016
When employees say stupid things, take some small comfort: Not every stray comment will be grounds for a successful lawsuit.

EEOC settles San Jose national origin suit for $40,000

07/22/2016
East San Jose-based Peters’ Bakery has agreed to settle charges the bakery’s owner verbally abused and harassed a Latina employee because of her national origin.

Jennie-O pays almost $500,000 to settle gender bias claims

07/22/2016
The Jennie-O Turkey Store company—now owned by Hormel Foods but founded and still based in Willmar—has agreed to hire 53 women from a pool of previously rejected applicants.

Gay coaches’ exit bringing more fallout to UM Duluth

07/22/2016
A former director of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender services at the University of Minnesota Duluth is the latest ex-employee to sue the university.

Words matter at work: Is ‘fitting in’ code for bias?

07/18/2016
Worried an employee won’t fit into a department dominated by members of a protected class? Watch out! A court might decide “fitting in” is code for bias.

In harassment cases, consider transfer to cut risk of continuing liability

07/15/2016
Employees who have been sexually harassed or experienced other forms of discrimination over several years may be able to rely on the so-called continual violation doctrine to extend the period of time they have to sue.

Jealousy over affair isn’t sex discrimination

07/14/2016
Romantic relationships at work can spark all sorts of problems, from sexual harassment claims to discrimination. But not every negative consequence of a workplace romance is grounds for litigation, even if one or both paramours ends up being fired.

Two new HR issues in N.Y.: Association bias & disloyal employees

07/08/2016
There have been two recent developments in New York of particular interest to HR professionals.

NYC human rights commission recognizes 31 genders

07/08/2016
The list includes terms such as “androgynous,” “gender bender,” “gender gifted,” “third sex” and “pangender.”

Fired Muslim cop sues NYPD over beard ultimatum

07/08/2016
A 10-year veteran of the New York Police Department is suing after being fired for refusing to shave his beard.