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Discrimination / Harassment

RIF or no RIF: 8 alternatives to consider before laying off staff

12/15/2008

If your organization isn’t already planning or implementing measures to cut labor costs, it may soon have to. News that the United States has been in a recession since December 2007 suggests that HR professionals should prepare to reduce the labor burden—if only as a contingency plan.

Ferret out bias: Ask supervisor whether he’s reported all similar incidents

12/12/2008

You probably rely on your supervisors and managers to give you all the relevant information before you make a disciplinary decision. But what if they don’t? If you don’t ask the right questions, you may inadvertently approve what ends up being a discriminatory action.

Remember, you—not employee—choose ADA accommodation

12/12/2008

Employees who need some form of reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of their jobs may have very specific ideas about the best way to accommodate their needs. But those may not be best for the employer. Employers are free to offer the accommodations they prefer as long as they are effective.

Cut your risk! Have HR make firing decisions

12/11/2008

Here’s another good reason to insist that HR handle all terminations: It’s much harder for employees to sue the company for its supervisors’ alleged harassment or discrimination if the HR office has primary responsibility for discharge decisions. Here’s why …

Beware reverse discrimination risk of overly aggressive minority recruiting

12/11/2008

It goes without saying that employers shouldn’t discriminate based on race, age, sex or other protected characteristics. But favoring people based on those protected characteristics can lead to another problem—reverse discrimination.

You don’t have to guarantee absolutely cordial treatment

12/11/2008

Although we all might wish for perfect harmony at work, that isn’t realistic. As long as there’s no obvious or thinly veiled race, sex or other underlying discrimination at work, it doesn’t matter if a supervisor isn’t very friendly with some employees.

Former Cook County prosecutor files discrimination suit

12/11/2008

Christine Opp, a former assistant state’s attorney for Cook County, has filed a lawsuit claiming that she was fired because of her age and political leanings.

Memo to staff: Put up with those you dislike

12/09/2008

What if an employee files a discrimination complaint with the EEOC and then suddenly finds herself having to work with someone she deems undesirable? Can she sue and allege that transferring the person she doesn’t like into her work section amounts to retaliation for filing the EEOC complaint?

Act fast to handle initial harassment claims

12/09/2008

The HR office is often the first stop an employee makes before filing a lawsuit alleging supervisor harassment. How you handle the initial complaint can mean the difference between stopping a problem before it gets out of hand and losing a lawsuit.

Remind managers: Comments about weight can trigger harassment complaints

12/09/2008

When people lose their jobs, they often look for some reason other than their own poor performance. And since they are off work, they have lots of time to think about the past, including real or imagined slights they endured at the hands of co-workers and supervisors.