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Discrimination / Harassment

It pays to hear both sides of the story before a firing

05/01/2007

If your organization is like many, someone in HR ultimately decides whether to terminate an employee for poor performance based on supervisor recommendations and supporting documents, such as performance reviews. That can spell trouble if there’s more going on than meets the eye ...

Civility helps prevent a hostile environment, but you don’t need to sweat the small stuff

05/01/2007

You’ve told your first-line supervisors over and over again that crude language, insults and worse have no place in the workplace. But now an employee has filed a complaint, alleging her supervisor’s “insults” have created a hostile work environment …

Tell managers: Keep unsolicited dietary advice to yourself

05/01/2007

Michigan has one of the toughest weight discrimination laws in the country—a law that can trip up supervisors who innocently offer diet tips. It’s crucial to train management staff to recognize that discussion concerning an employee’s weight is off-limits …

Even Years Later, ‘Getting Even’ Can Still Be Retaliation

05/01/2007

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act makes it illegal to retaliate against employees who complain about discrimination. Ordinarily, employees must show a strong time-related connection between their initial complaint and the alleged retaliation. However, employees can file years later if they can show that the individual who allegedly retaliated waited until he was in a position to order a payback …

Grand Rapids finds the legal costs alone can kill you

05/01/2007

The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of a Grand Rapids police officer who was suspended as “unfit for duty” after she filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against the city of Grand Rapids. Now here’s the rest of the story …

Staph infection breeds claims in addition to bacteria

05/01/2007

A former registered nurse for the Oakland County jail has sued the county after she contracted a drug-resistant, flesh-eating staphylococcus bacterial infection while working at the jail …

Court Administrator’s Job Cut by Bible-Thumping Judge

05/01/2007

A state judge who allegedly rants about “devil’s weed” and “Satan’s surge” while attaching biblical verses to legal opinions is being sued after he axed a deputy court administrator’s position in his office …

Beyond business need, show why individuals got sacked

05/01/2007

Reductions in force (RIFs) happen for a reason—usually financial. To keep legal fees and jury awards from mooting savings, be sure to document why a RIF is necessary and who should get pink slips …

When planning a layoff, use a checklist to avoid needless age bias litigation

05/01/2007

If an upcoming reduction in force (RIF) will affect older workers, create a paper trail to demonstrate compliance with the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act …

Ignoring discrimination policy may lead to punitive damages

05/01/2007

Train supervisors and managers to report religious and other discrimination, and be sure they know not to retaliate against anyone who does come forward. Ohio state law bars discrimination based on religion and other protected characteristics, and employees who can show they were discriminated against can collect punitive damages …