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Discrimination / Harassment

No anonymous employment lawsuits allowed

04/16/2018
Sometimes, filing a lawsuit and airing dirty laundry in a public forum can be embarrassing and uncomfortable for an employee. That doesn’t give her the right to bring the case using a pseudonym, a federal court has ruled.

Former Duluth, Minn. hockey coach awarded $3.7 million for bias

04/16/2018
A federal jury hearing a discrimination lawsuit filed against the University of Minnesota Duluth has awarded $3.7 million to Shannon Miller, the university’s former women’s hockey coach.

Harassment training has changed since #MeToo

04/12/2018
Employment lawyers say the first six months of the #MeToo movement hasn’t led to a tsunami of workplace harassment claims by employees—at least not yet. One big change, however, has been a sharp increase in the number of employers who are doing preventative training to head off such claims.

When bias charges arise, never ignore EEOC

04/12/2018
No matter how trivial you might consider discrimination or harassment charges leveled by your employees, never, ever ignore an EEOC complaint. It could wind up costing your organization dearly.

Snapshot: Has #MeToo made it difficult for men to work with women?

04/10/2018
Overall, 51% of adults say an increased focus on sexual harassment has made it harder for men to interact with women at work.

Watch out for Section 1981, the ancient law that can put your own assets at risk

04/09/2018
A federal court has made it clear: If a workplace is found to be a racially hostile environment, individual decision-makers are at risk of being held personally liable. Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 sometimes allows for bigger verdicts and personal liability for supervisors, managers, owners and even HR professionals.

Harassment victim can’t choose punishment

04/09/2018
Employers have an obligation to investigate and come up with an effective way to stop harassment and prevent it from happening again. However, that doesn’t mean the alleged victim gets to choose the remedy.

Can’t explain firing? Better call your lawyer

04/09/2018
Employers that can’t provide a good, business-related explanation for every termination are courting legal trouble. Unless an employer can justify its action, an employee who sues for discrimination will find it relatively easy to get the case in front of a jury.

Schneiderman: Personal liability in Weinstein case

04/09/2018
In court documents related to the state of New York’s sexual harassment lawsuit against the Weinstein Company, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman leveled blistering criticism at the film production firm’s embattled founder Harvey Weinstein. But he wasn’t Schneiderman’s only target.

EEOC pursues service-related harassment

04/05/2018
The EEOC is putting employers on notice that it will vigorously enforce the rights of employees who serve in the National Guard or military reserves or who are veterans.