• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Discrimination / Harassment

The more complicated the bias allegations, the harder it is for employees to prevail

10/18/2017
Employees trying to prove “gender-plus” discrimination must be prepared to make specific allegations showing how multiple characteristics were involved. That’s a tough sell.

Saying ‘No!’ to boss’s come-on puts employer on notice of possible retaliation

10/18/2017
When an employee rejects a supervisor’s unwanted sexual advances, that counts as opposing discrimination for the purpose of establishing retaliation for protected activity. Essentially, saying “No!” to a harassing supervisor may be as good as reporting the incident to HR.

No boss comments on language skills, hearing

10/18/2017
Here’s an important reminder to pass on to supervisors and managers. Don’t comment on a subordinate’s accent or mispronunciation of common words. Doing so can create a hostile environment based on national origin. The same goes for comments about an individual’s ability to hear.

Poll: Who’s looking out for the men at work?

10/17/2017
A new survey by the Ernst & Young consulting firm found that 32% of men in general feel excluded in the workplace.

Snapshot: More women than men consider gender bias in tech a problem

10/17/2017
Women are substantially more likely than men to say gender discrimination is a major problem in the technology industry.

Staffing agency can’t step in to protect employee’s civil rights

10/17/2017
When it comes to Title VII discrimination, an employer can’t sue another organization on an employee’s behalf. That’s up to either the individual worker or a government agency like the EEOC, which has standing to pursue such cases for workers.

Fixing harassment? Let complainer know

10/16/2017
When responding to a harassment complaint, be sure to let the worker who complained know what steps you are taking. Acting behind the scenes while telling your employee to “deal with it” himself is one of the worst things you can do. That’s courting a retaliation lawsuit.

Trump administration initiatives to affect HR

10/11/2017
Three Trump administration policy reversals issued over the course of two days in early October could quickly begin affecting the HR practices of employers nationwide.

EEOC challenges docs’ pay practices in Denton County, Texas

10/06/2017
The EEOC has sued Denton County, Texas, alleging its health department violated the Equal Pay Act when it paid a female doctor less than a male colleague who performed substantially the same work.

Note business reason for demotion to prove it wasn’t discrimination or retaliation

10/03/2017
Before an employee can sue his employer for discrimination, he usually has to show that he was subjected to some sort of adverse employment action. Under the right circumstances, that can include being moved into a position the worker considers demeaning, such as being forced to work for someone he once supervised.