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Discrimination / Harassment

Ensure early-out incentives are equitable

10/07/2016
Often before an employer implements a reduction in force, it may try to encourage employees to resign or retire by offering early-out incentives.

Rejecting candidates, then leaving positions unfilled can trigger discrimination claims

09/29/2016
If you reject a qualified candidate but leave the position open while still seeking someone with similar qualifications, that’s an open invitation to be sued for discrimination.

There are pay suits and discrimination suits, but they’re not necessarily the same

09/29/2016
Employees who file EEOC suits can’t go back years with pay claims unless they can show some sort of continuing violation.  Merely having complained for years—even decades—about unfair pay isn’t enough.

New worker is older, too? That’s not age bias

09/29/2016
Unless there is some other direct evidence of age-related bias or harassment, it’s virtually impossible for an older worker to win an age discrimination claim if his replacement is also older.

ADEA: As boomers get older, more file age-discrimination claims

09/27/2016
Age-discrimination cases are among the most costly for employers. Do you have an age-bias problem?

EEOC loses ‘no dreadlocks’ race bias case

09/27/2016
The EEOC has lost an important case that was among the first to test the concept that race can be defined as a “construct” rather than by a set of physical characteristics.

Warn managers: Watch your language when discussing any aspect of worker’s pregnancy

09/26/2016
Generally, when the same supervisor who hired someone also made the decision to fire someone, courts apply a concept called the “same-actor theory.” If the employee’s protected characteristic was hidden, the same presumption doesn’t apply.

Tell bosses: No comments about hair, clothing

09/26/2016
You may be among the many employers that have dress and grooming rules. That’s fine as long as you allow for religion, race, disability and other protected statuses that may affect how employees comply with the rules.

Death threat? Yeah, that’s reason to quit

09/26/2016
It goes without saying that you can’t tolerate a supervisor who threatens to kill a subordinate. It’s not good enough to suspend him without pay and then let him come back after a lengthy leave.

Banker wins $3.5 million in sexual orientation suit

09/22/2016
A Steele County, Minn., judge has awarded a banker $3.5 million in damages after a bank holding company ousted him after he revealed he is gay.