Retaliation

Use hotline records to nail down complaints

10/27/2012

A hotline makes it easy for employees to file complaints internally—and for you to keep track of the kinds of complaints they are making. That can come in handy later if there’s a dispute about when or about what an employee complained.

Supervisor deserves termination? Fire away–even if he’s a member of a protected class

10/22/2012

Hey, it happens: Sometimes, supervisors screw up. Go ahead and discipline them for their mistakes, even if you’re afraid your actions might trigger a discrimination or harassment lawsuit.

Remind bosses: No comments about EEOC complaints

10/18/2012

When an employee files an EEOC complaint or lets anyone know he has sued former employers, remind managers not to say anything.

Feel free to fire! There’s no reason you have to tolerate threatening behavior

10/12/2012

Have you had it with an employee who can’t seem to get along with others and who constantly tries to intimidate co-workers? If warnings don’t help, fire him.

Beware excessive monitoring of employees who raise discrimination concerns

10/09/2012

Everyone knows it’s retaliation to demote or fire an employee after he complains about discrimination or cooperates in an investigation. But what about less drastic actions? They might be retaliation, too, under the right circumstances. That can even include excessive monitoring after the employee has complained.

OSHA pops Champagne Demolition for retaliation

10/09/2012

Champagne Demolition in Albany faces an OSHA lawsuit claiming that it illegally fired an employee for reporting improper asbestos removal practices at a company worksite.

Good-faith complaint required for retaliation to be possible

10/05/2012

Employees who complain about alleged discrimination are protected from retaliation—up to a point. Frivolous complaints don’t count.

Employee wouldn’t dance to Bojangle’s manager’s tune

10/02/2012

A Greensboro-area Bojangle’s restaurant has agreed to pay $33,426 to a former female employee after she was harassed, retaliated against and fired for refusing her manager’s advances.

EEOC cracks down on owner at Lexington’s Silver Diner

10/02/2012

Lexington’s Silver Diner faces an EEOC lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation against a former employee.

Remind supervisors: Absolutely no comments about employee’s pending EEOC complaint

09/26/2012

There are some words that should never come from a supervisor’s mouth—including any statement that would seem to encourage an employee to drop an EEOC complaint. That just about guarantees that a retaliation or interference lawsuit will go to trial should anything adverse (like a discharge or demotion) happen to the employee to whom the supervisor was speaking.