Archive for the ‘Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation’ Category
ACCOMMODATING RELIGION IN THE WORKPLACE
Avoid the Employment Discrimination Gallows As religious diversity in the American workplace increases, so does the importance of management’s understanding how to address conflicts that arise. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), responsible for enforcing the federal law prohibiting discrimination in commerce has recently published a guide to help employers with the task (“Questions and […]
THE MANY FACES OF HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE
Sexual harassment rightfully gets the bulk of attention when drafting prevention and reporting policies or training employees on proper workplace conduct. However, managers should not stop there. In California, there are as many as ten other types of harassment claims that businesses must do everything reasonably possible to prevent. Workplace “harassment” can be broadly defined […]
BEING UNEMPLOYED JUST GOT HARDER
EEOC Investigates Discrimination Against the Unemployed A recent trend in on-line job ads has caught the attention of the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). That agency is holding hearings at their Washington D.C. headquarters today on why some businesses are choosing to exclude the unemployed from consideration for job openings. Lines like “must be […]
PREGNANCY DISABILITY LEAVE
California Employers’ Obligations It has been said that death and taxes are the only two sure things in life but man, those people ought to cheer up. After all, you don’t even get to all that “death is inevitable” drivel without love (hopefully), sex (rock & roll optional), pregnancy and childhood. California supports the pregnancy […]
OH NO YOU DIDN’T!
Wrongful Termination of At-Will Employees Theory is one thing, practice another. In theory, “at-will” employment means neither employer nor employee are obligated to continue the relationship for any period of time. Either may terminate for any reason or for no reason at all, with or without advance notice. In practice, some company executives and personnel […]
EEOC REPORTS RECORD HIGH
Workplace Misconduct Charges in 2010 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently published its annual statistical report on unlawful workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation charges. Individuals filed 99,022 complaints (“charges”) with the agency in 2010, more than in any of the EEOC’s 45 years of existence. The total is a 7% increase over 2009. Many […]
AN EMPLOYER’S GUIDE TO NEW 2011 LAWS PART V
Employer’s Obligations to Prevent Discrimination and Other Unlawful Employment Practices In a recent case before the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission (FEHC), paralegal Robin Williams alleged her former employer, Lyddan Law Group, was liable for hostile work environment harassment and discrimination on the bases of race, religion and sex. She also asserted Lyddan retaliated […]
EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT TIPS FAIR HIRING PRACTICES
Reasonable Accommodation and Disability Discrimination Discrimination by non-governmental employers against physically or mentally disabled persons has only been illegal for less than 20 years. However, the area tends to be highly technical. California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing website might make appear that the issues are straightforward. Sometimes they are. The site states that […]
OFFICE HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE III HARASSMENT HOTBED
Attempted Hook-Ups Can Lead to Litigation Shake-Downs We have already outlined a roadmap for handling alcohol at holiday office parties. By its off-the-clock and put-work-aside nature, the annual December office gathering may also be a prime setting for unwelcome sexual advances by employees, worse yet by managers. Such harassment is not an experience anyone […]
NEW YORK TIMES SUPREME COURT AGREES TO HEAR WAL-MART BIAS CASE
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear an appeal in the biggest employment discrimination case on record, one claiming that Wal-Mart discriminated against hundreds of thousands of women in pay and promotion. The lawsuit seeks back pay that could amount to billions of dollars. The question before the court is whether claims by individual […]