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Discrimination / Harassment

Higher standards OK for probationary employees

06/01/2007

If yours is like most organizations, you probably make new employees serve a probationary period. It can provide insight into the new employee’s ability, attitude and how well he or she fits in. During probation, you can hold new employees to a higher standard than established employees …

Whistleblower Act doesn’t always require providing written notice to employer

06/01/2007

Under the Florida Whistleblower Act, if an employee is going to disclose an alleged employer violation of a law or a rule, the employer must get written notice. But that’s not true in every case …

Don’t like the hairstyles? Off with their wigs, too!

06/01/2007

The Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation Department recently issued a new dress code that some officers say discriminates against black workers …

Where there are shredders, there are probably copiers, too

06/01/2007

Bay County Property Appraiser Rick Barnett resigned after settling sexual harassment complaints with two female employees …

Log for leave requests can save the day

06/01/2007

Problem employees—the kind that see discrimination, harassment and retaliation every time a supervisor so much as issues an oral warning for anything—won’t hesitate to sue and charge retaliation. They may even seek redress for minor slights by requesting FMLA leave and trying to trip you up if your response is not to their liking …

After winning the lawsuit, city lost its insurance

06/01/2007

The city of Fort Oglethorpe had to scramble to find insurance after the Georgia Interlocal Risk Management Agency canceled its property and liability coverage due to excessive claims …

Overqualified new hire? Look out for sex disparity

06/01/2007

Have you offered a well-qualified applicant a lower-ranking position than her experience indicates she’s qualified to perform? If so, better make sure there’s no sex disparity in your hiring patterns …

Prepare to justify why your hire beat rest of applicants

06/01/2007

Do you routinely receive many applications from people who are clearly well-qualified for open positions? If so, how can you safely narrow the field to only the most qualified? The larger the applicant pool, the more likely it is someone will sue for discrimination …

Don’t be caught by surprise: Spell out harassment policy

06/01/2007

Your anti-discrimination and harassment policy won’t help much if employees don’t know it exists or how to make complaints. If they suffer in silence, the first you’ll know about harassment may be when you receive an EEOC or a New Jersey Division of Civil Rights complaint …

Double-Check race and sex mix of promoted work force

06/01/2007

It seems counterintuitive: Managers and supervisors must be colorblind when selecting employees, yet HR absolutely should track the racial and other characteristics of those who are promoted …