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Discrimination / Harassment

EEOC: Religious schedule request cost applicant job

10/28/2015
A registered nurse claims North Memorial Health Care in Robbinsdale, Minn., withdrew its employment offer after she requested a religious accommodation. The woman is a Seventh-day Adventist and had sought a schedule that would not force her to work from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.

Act fast to stop harassment … and still get sued

10/26/2015

It is critical to prevent sexual harassment—especially when a supervisor is involved—instead of relying on your post-harassment policy to block lawsuits. The University of Minnesota just learned that the hard way.

Happy birthday! You’re fired!

10/26/2015
A Wisconsin company has settled an EEOC age discrimination and retaliation lawsuit after it fired two employees—on their birthdays.

EEOC sues San Ysidro eatery for same-sex harassment

10/21/2015
Achiote Restaurant in San Ysidro, Ca., faces an EEOC lawsuit after young Mexican men working at the restaurant complained of sexual harassment and retaliation by a male manager.

Grooming standards prompt EEOC class-action suit against UPS

10/15/2015
The EEOC has filed a class-action suit on behalf of several men of various religions who have allegedly been forced to shave or cut their hair to obtain jobs at UPS.

Sierra Academy of Aeronautics settles pregnancy bias case

10/13/2015
A female airplane mechanic who alleged she was fired after she revealed her pregnancy to her employer will receive $60,000 in damages. Sierra Academy of Aeronautics, located near Merced, Ca., agreed to a seven-year consent decree, but admitted no liability.

Growing workplace protections for transgender employees

10/08/2015
No federal law protects gay employees—including transgender employees—from discrimination or harassment because of their sexual orientation. However, courts and the EEOC have begun applying Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to protect transgender rights.

UPS grooming standards prompt religious bias lawsuit

10/08/2015
A Muslim applicant for a driver helper position with UPS in Rochester, N.Y. is one of the lead plaintiffs in a class-action suit against the delivery service. The EEOC is suing on behalf of several men of various religions who have either allegedly been forced to shave to obtain a UPS job or been denied employment because of their religious beliefs.

EEOC sues Schenectady Subway franchise for sexual harassment

10/08/2015
A manager at a Schenectady, N.Y. Subway franchise allegedly demanded sex from teenage applicants in exchange for jobs at the sandwich chain. Two underage girls reported the manager to the EEOC after he sent them explicit texts suggesting that they would be hired if they had sex with him.

Former employee reapplies? Beware retaliation lawsuit

10/08/2015
Consider this before dismissing a request for reinstatement or new job application from a former employee: She may be trying to set up a lawsuit alleging that turning her down amounted to retaliation. Don’t fall into that trap.