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Discrimination / Harassment

OK to have stricter standards for probationary employees

02/12/2009

You can learn a lot about an employee during the first few weeks. Missing work then probably means attendance will be a problem later. Having stricter rules during the initial probationary period will help you weed out problem employees.

Hastings offers settlement to cop accused of wrongdoing

02/12/2009

A female police officer who was placed on administrative leave after being accused of writing false traffic-warning citations has received a payout from her employer, the Hastings Police Department.

Stillwater schools settle age discrimination lawsuit

02/12/2009

The Stillwater School District has agreed to pay a part-time teacher and athletics coach $137,000 to settle age discrimination claims in a lawsuit filed by the EEOC.

Put best foot forward when responding to EEOC administrative claims

02/12/2009

The EEOC and state and local agencies have been filing more and more administrative charges in recent years. As the recession deepens and more people lose their jobs, that trend is likely to continue. Because administrative charges can be precursors to discrimination lawsuits, it’s critical for you to handle them properly.

How should we handle layoffs without risking discrimination claims?

02/12/2009

Q. We need to cut two employees from our marketing department. One of the employees we would prefer to keep was hired only six months ago. If we don’t base our decision on seniority, are we more susceptible to discrimination claims?

What should we do? Returning employee wants full-time work, we want part time

02/12/2009

Q. When an employee requested a reduced schedule as an accommodation of his medical condition, we agreed. He has now told us that he is able to work full time. However, because of business conditions, we’d prefer to keep him at a reduced schedule. Do we have to reinstate him to his full-time job?

Check all records before answering EEOC charges

02/12/2009

Inconsistent stories and explanations look like lies to the everyday people who sit on juries. That’s one reason it’s crucial to double-check all your records and get the facts straight before you respond to EEOC, state or local anti-discrimination agency charges.

Remind supervisors to immediately report offensive graffiti, and then remove it

02/12/2009

Graffiti usually appears where the author is least likely to be caught creating it. Popular workplace spots are lavatories and work site portable toilets. And offensive graffiti can create an almost instantly hostile work environment. That’s why HR should remind supervisors to immediately report any graffiti—no matter where they find it.

Feel free to set different pay rates, but prepare to document business reasons why

02/12/2009

Pay discrimination has received lots of attention lately, especially since the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act became law in January. Employees now have longer to sue over pay disparity.

Long-past lost training can’t make a lawsuit—for now

02/12/2009

Employees who long ago were denied training opportunities because of their race can’t wait decades to sue their employers for later lost promotion opportunities, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled.