Archive for the ‘Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation’ Category
CAUTIONARY TALE EPISODE 34
DON’T BE COLD TO THE OLD Google Settles Age Discrimination Case for $11 Million Federal age discrimination protections, including the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), apply to companies with 20 or more on payroll. California’s workplace anti-discrimination law, the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), applies to employers with five or more […]
COMFORT IS NOT A LUXURY
Protections for People Needing Assistive Animals A recent settlement extends California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) disabilities protection to rental applicants seeking to move in with emotional support pets. In a complaint filed with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) against Adams West Associates, Ltd. and Bedford Group of Companies, LLC, a […]
CAUTIONARY TALE EPISODE 33
CHOKE THE “JOKES” EEOC Settles Tex-Mex Restaurant Servers’ Sexual Harassment Case for $40,000 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual orientation. On August 9, 2019, the EEOC announced the $40,000 resolution of its harassment lawsuit against Virginia-based El Tio Tex- Mex Grill […]
AVOID DISCRIMINATORY JOB RECRUITMENT AND ADVERTISING
Workers, 1901 Advertising and recruiting of desired applicants are the first steps in the hiring process. Such outreach must not discriminate against members of any “protected class,” characteristics shielded by federal and state employment discrimination laws. In California, these include race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, […]
HAIRSTYLE DISCRIMINATION BANNED
New California Law Takes Effect January 1, 2020 California law has long-prohibited workplace racial discrimination against employees and applicants. The state is now the first to link natural hairstyles to race, thus protecting their wearers from disparate treatment. The Legislature based passage of revised Government Code 12926 on a finding that workplace dress and grooming […]
CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 30
State Settles Sexual Harassment Case with Cypress Police Department The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) defines sexual harassment as unwanted sexual advances, or visual, verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature. This includes same-sex harassment, offering employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors, or retaliating after receiving a negative response to sexual advances. On June […]
CAUTIONARY TALES EPISODE 28
EEOC Settles Female Miner Discrimination and Retaliation Case For $690,000 The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced the $690,000 resolution of its gender-based lawsuit against Alaska gold mining outfit Northern Star LLC, formerly Sumitomo Metal Mining Pogo (Pogo). The government alleged Pogo discriminated against female underground miner Hanna Hurst by refusing to promote her despite promoting male […]
BE KIND TO MOMMIES
Pregnancy Discrimination Is a Really Bad Idea Pregnancy remains one of the most clearly protected classifications for employees, safeguarded not only under general disability laws, but also under laws enacted specifically to protect expectant women. See, for example, Pregnancy Accommodation in California (Nov 2018); Employers with 20 or More on Payroll Must Provide Expanded […]
DEALING WITH THE WORKPLACE “DEBBIE DOWNER”
Properly Confronting the Chronically Negative Employee According to Wiktionary.org, a “Debbie Downer” is a “naysayer; one whose negative remarks depress or dissuade others.” Most seasoned managers will be all too familiar with how one negative individual can bring down the entire workforce’s morale. Employers are often reluctant to terminate someone just for a negative attitude, […]
UNUSUAL JOB INTERVIEWS
The New Normal? There appears a growing trend of employers — nationwide and abroad – implementing unorthodox methods to assess job candidates such as escape rooms, capture the flag, professional “speed dating” sessions, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf, laser tag and cooperative board games. An escape room involves a small group of people locked in a […]