Discrimination / Harassment

Expect lawsuit when inexperienced newbie suddenly replaces older, excellent worker

06/14/2018

When an employer suddenly replaces a long-term employee with a younger, inexperienced one without explanation, the older employee may have enough evidence to file an age discrimination lawsuit and get to trial.

Employee acting as own lawyer? Expect delays

06/14/2018

Unfortunately for employers, pro se litigation can take lots of time (and money) to defend. Judges are often willing to indulge employees who act as their own lawyers by providing detailed instructions on how to revise a complaint that would have been summarily dismissed had it come from an attorney.

How to prep for flood of #MeToo complaints

06/14/2018

In a recent NPR radio interview, Society for Human Resource Management CEO Johnny Taylor reported that #MeToo has created an “HR level of activity like nothing we’ve ever seen.”

Rowlett, Texas bar to pay $20,000 to settles pregnancy bias suit

06/12/2018

The owner of Nick’s Sports Grille in Rowlett, outside Dallas, has agreed to settle charges it discriminated against a pregnant bartender who was fired after she could no longer fit into the bar’s skimpy uniform.

University of Denver picked wrong professors to stiff on equal pay

06/12/2018

Note to large employers everywhere: If you’re going to cheat anyone out of the pay they deserve, don’t do it to lawyers.

Snapshot: Big business makes progress on LGBT issues

06/12/2018

An overwhelming majority of Fortune 500 corporations prohibit discrimination on the basis of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender status.

Settlement offer? Track other side’s response

06/07/2018

When an employee files an EEOC complaint or otherwise indicates that a lawsuit may be coming, it sometimes makes sense to settle out of court. If you decide to go that route, make careful notes on every step in the process.

Wedding cake ruling didn’t OK anti-gay bias

06/07/2018

The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 4 decision in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple was not a signal to employers that it is acceptable to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

Promote diversity without violating discrimination laws

06/07/2018

Workplace diversity initiatives can benefit employers and employees alike, but they can also present a challenging dynamic for employers.

Animosity isn’t always evidence of bias

06/07/2018

Supervisors may harbor deep animosity towards a particular worker. But unless that animosity is based on a protected characteristic such as race, sex or age, it remains merely unfair, not a case of discrimination.