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Discrimination / Harassment

Responding to harassment complaint? Don’t force victim into unfair decision

11/09/2015

There’s a right way and a wrong way to handle a sexual harassment complaint that may have involved physical assault. Suspending the alleged harasser is the safest approach. Telling the allegedly assaulted employee to choose between accepting a transfer or working with the harasser is not. She likely will quit and fire off a claim that she was constructively discharged.

Victim didn’t complain about supposed hostility in workplace? He may be out of luck

11/09/2015
If an employee ignores slurs or other hostile behavior—or even jokes about it with co-workers—that may be evidence the employee wasn’t personally offended and, therefore, won’t be successful in his hostile environment lawsuit.

Dunkin’ Donuts manager: Not so sweet

11/06/2015
A Westchester County, N.Y., Dunkin’ Donuts franchise finds itself in hot oil after a store manager allegedly slapped a female employee who refused his sexual advances.

Fired college coach, 88, files age-bias complaint

11/06/2015
After 31 years on the job, the cross-country coach for Hunter College in New York is suing the school, alleging he was forced out because of his age.

EEOC alleges Crothall fails to keep proper records

11/03/2015
Wayne, Pa.-based temporary services firm Crothall Services Group faces an EEOC lawsuit alleging it failed to maintain records necessary to document the effect of its criminal background check policy on minorities.

Pennsylvania concrete company, union settle disability bias claim

11/03/2015
Erie, Pa.-based Erie Strayer Co. and Local 468 of the International Association of Bridge Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers have settled charges they violated the ADA when they required employees to provide detailed medical information in order to use paid sick leave.

EEOC says Rotten Ralph’s lived up to its name

11/03/2015
Old City Philadelphia bar Rotten Ralph’s faces charges it discriminated against a Muslim employee when it refused to allow her to wear a khimar or head scarf during Ramadan.

Careful documentation wins discharge cases

11/03/2015

It’s never pleasant to see a long-term employee’s performance decline. But if you intend to discipline a worker who previously was a good or even great performer, be sure to track the decline carefully. You don’t want an age discrimination claim to catch you unaware.

Con Edison agrees to $3.8M sex discrimination settlement

11/03/2015
Con Edison has agreed to a settlement of widespread sex discrimination charges filed by a class of over 300 female employees.

EEOC: Multi-prong strategy best way to prevent workplace harassment

11/02/2015
Empowering co-workers to report inappropriate behavior, multiple access points for reporting harassment, prompt investigations and swift disciplinary action when warranted, along with strong support from top leadership, are some of the measures employers can take to prevent workplace harassment, a panel of experts told the EEOC’s Select Task Force on the Study of Harassment in the Workplace at a public meeting held Oct. 22 in Los Angeles.