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Discrimination / Harassment

Worker must ask for religious accommodation

03/13/2018

Employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for a worker’s religious practices, including letting workers skip shifts for religious holidays. But it is up to the worker to actually request the accommodation. Missing a shift without asking can be grounds for discharge.

Dig into harassment case to learn what really happened

03/08/2018

There’s aren’t many ways for an employer to defend against allegations that a supervisor sexually harassed a subordinate. But a careful investigation may uncover evidence that the relationship was wholly consensual, which may help.

EEOC believes in religious accommodation

03/08/2018

Employers sometimes forget that in addition to offering reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities, they have a similar obligation to reasonably accommodate employees’ religious practices.

Another circuit rules anti-gay bias is illegal

03/01/2018

In a groundbreaking decision, the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Title VII provision that prohibits sex discrimination also makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against gay employees.

Have a good reason for acting? Stick with it!

02/27/2018

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to overturn a $150,000 jury verdict against a real estate developer. A female sales associate had filed the complaint after her employer transferred her to a less lucrative development, resulting in a significant pay cut.

Snapshot: Your staff may not trust your anti-harassment policy

02/27/2018

One third of employees report that they don’t believe their employer’s sexual harassment policy is effective.

Ensure delivery of religious accommodations

02/27/2018

A Maryland furniture delivery company has agreed to pay a spurned job applicant $94,541 to atone for not granting a religious accommodation.

EEOC strategy plans doing more with less

02/22/2018

The EEOC has released its Strategic Plan for Federal Fiscal Years 2018–2022, the first such plan of the Trump administration, under the leadership of Acting EEOC Chair Victoria Lipnic.

Appeals court rules: Discrimination based on employee’s obesity may violate FEHA

02/21/2018

Workers whose obesity has physiological causes are protected from discrimination and harassment under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. Super­­visors who discriminate against those workers may face liability.

Guess who else is invoking #MeToo: the EEOC

02/21/2018

The #MeToo social media movement has been wildly successful at shining a spotlight on the sexual harassment women often experience at work. Now the EEOC has begun using #MeToo in press releases announcing sexual harassment litigation.