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Discrimination / Harassment

Turning a deaf ear to insults: A $500,000 mistake

09/20/2018
Your managers probably know it’s unlawful to discriminate in hiring and firing based on a person’s age or disability. But they may not realize that same law makes it unlawful to verbally harass workers based on those protected characteristics.

Hotel panic buttons are sign of #MeToo’s clout

09/20/2018
Other than a flurry of anti-harassment training, concrete action to prevent workplace harassment since the #MeToo movement took off has been notably absent—until now.

First employee walk-outs related to #MeToo movement

09/20/2018
On Sept. 18, female employees at McDonald’s franchises in nearly a dozen cities staged a one-day walkout to pressure the company to get tough on managers who sexually harass workers in the restaurants.

EEOC lawsuit? Be sure to track when employee filed

09/13/2018
Generally, an employee has 90 days after receiving an EEOC right-to-sue letter to file a federal discrimination lawsuit. But counting out just 90 days may not be good enough.

Can’t accommodate religion? Prove hardship

09/13/2018
Once the employee shows her need for religious accommodation, the burden shifts to the employer to show that it is unable to accommodate the religious need without undue hardship.

Beware perils of mandated religious practices

09/13/2018
The “culture war” over evangelical religious beliefs and practices is beginning to affect how HR professionals must balance the rights of company owners and their employees.

Commuting distance: A new excuse for bias?

09/13/2018
HR pros know all about the usual forms of discrimination: race, sex, age, national origin, disability and so forth. Are we about to add another category to the list of characteristics on which bias claims may be based?

Train bosses: You must report all harassment

09/05/2018
Anyone who sees harassment happening should say something to the appropriate company office or individual in charge of preventing and stopping harassment. The EEOC takes this “see something, say something” reporting requirement very seriously.

Report: Glass ceiling holds women back at DOJ

08/31/2018
The U.S. Justice Department’s Inspector General has issued a report showing that women are substantially underrepresented in criminal investigative and leadership positions within the Department of Justice.

Good documentation wins discrimination lawsuits

08/31/2018
If you have to discharge a difficult employee, be patient—and carefully document everything. You need detailed records showing exactly how the em­­ployee interacted with other workers and why the behavior was unacceptable.