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Policies / Handbooks

Understanding religious accommodations in Georgia workplaces

03/01/2007

Georgia mirrors America’s growing diversity in many ways. Today, mosques occupy old churches; many workers wear burqas and yarmulkes; and some employees request “prayer breaks.” Religious diversity is a reason for celebration, but it also presents challenges in the workplace …

More discrimination suits filed against Savannah police chief

03/01/2007

When it rains, it pours. Recently, 11 Los Angeles police officers filed discrimination and harassment suits against Savannah Police Chief Michael Berkow …

Chief under restraining order for harassing firefighters

03/01/2007

Loganville, Ga., has found a unique way to deal with an allegedly roguish, abrasive manager …

Banning religious jokes: Seems extreme, but it could have saved Haddonfield in court

03/01/2007

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD) protects employees against having to work in an environment hostile to their religious beliefs or background. That means if your supervisors tolerate jokes, ribbing or other distasteful references to religious practices or stereotypes, you’re risking a lawsuit and all the expense that entails …

Landmark N.J. Ruling Adds New Reason to Monitor Internet Usage

03/01/2007

Both federal and New Jersey state statutes hold perpetrators criminally liable for the possession or viewing of child pornography. But a recent New Jersey Appellate Division decision opens the door for employers to be held civilly liable for failing to prevent these acts …

Blocking employee’s exit could be false imprisonment

03/01/2007

Do the supervisors in your organization know how to handle potentially volatile employment discussions? If they don’t use kid gloves, they could be sued personally by employees for state torts such as false imprisonment and battery …


OSHA Compliance: Fly Under the Radar of Beefed-Up Inspections

03/01/2007

The Occupational Safety and Health Act is the main federal law requiring employers to provide a safe and healthy workplace. In recent years, OSHA has cranked up its enforcement, especially targeting employers that are repeat or “willful” violators …

You can insist on bilingual ability if the job requires it

03/01/2007

Many employers have run afoul of federal discrimination law by requiring all employees to speak only English at all times. The EEOC has said employers can only set such “English-only” rules if they can show a clear business need …

Houston manufacturer settles bias lawsuit with 78 employees

03/01/2007

A federal district court judge in Texas recently approved a settlement to resolve allegations of national-origin discrimination against QuietFlex Manufacturing Co …

Seek Written OK for Internal-Complaint Resolutions

03/01/2007

The aim of any good harassment policy is to stop problems before they turn into a litigation nightmare. Reaching a compromise early, even when you aren’t convinced anything illegal has happened, makes sense if that settlement doesn’t lead to a retaliation lawsuit later …