Discrimination / Harassment

Beware snarky anti-nationality comments

07/02/2019

When supervisors make snide comments about an employee’s ethnicity and then demote or otherwise change that employee’s working conditions, those comments may be considered evidence of bias.

EEOC: Restaurant owner harassed teen employees

07/02/2019

The EEOC is suing Tosca Americana Italian Kitchen, a restaurant in the Houston suburb of Atascocita, alleging one of its owners regularly harassed female employees, some of whom were underage.

Same broken rule, different discipline: Show why you punished one more harshly

06/28/2019

Courts like to see employers equally treat workers who break the same rules. That doesn’t mean employers have no wiggle room. The key is to document why one worker deserves a different punishment than another for breaking the same rule.

Warn young bosses against comments that trigger suits

06/27/2019

Sometimes, new supervisors don’t realize the long-term harm a few unwelcome comments can create. Take, for example, calling an older worker “pa” or “young feller.” That could be the germ of an age discrimination lawsuit.

Audit your potential for discrimination liability

06/27/2019

Some industries and workplaces are at higher than usual risk for discrimination and harassment claims. Any workplace that has a largely homogeneous workforce may create special risks for the few workers who are different.

Board diversity an emerging issue on Capitol Hill, reality in California

06/25/2019

The House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing June 20 on proposals to increase diversity on the boards of directors that guide corporations.

Quick response is a lifesaver in harassment cases

06/20/2019

Remind supervisors to react immediately to harassment complaints, at least by notifying HR.

Trade union lawyers target age discrimination

06/20/2019

If you think labor unions only cause trouble for employers that find themselves on the wrong side of a picket line, think again. At least one union has become a driving force in a nationwide effort to ferret out age discrimination and file class-action lawsuits to make it stop.

Long Island company settles EEOC bias case for $407,000

06/13/2019

West Babylon-based A&F Fire Protection Co. Inc. has agreed to pay a class of black and Hispanic employees $407,000 to compensate them for blatant racial discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

Carefully track all details when replacing older worker