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Discrimination / Harassment

Justify change that will affect older workers

08/26/2015
Are you planning to change the way you schedule work or provide overtime opportunities? If the proposed changes would affect your older employees, make sure you document solid business reasons to justify the new system, just in case it is challenged in court.

Alleged harassment victim must file complaint

08/21/2015

When an employer provides a way for employees to complain about poor treatment based on harassment, it will only be liable if it knew about the offensive behavior and failed to address it. That’s why you should be prepared to document all complaints.

EEOC alleges race bias at New Ulm factory

08/19/2015
Windings Inc., a maker of precision motor parts in New Ulm, faces charges it refused to hire a qualified applicant because he is biracial. The EEOC has filed suit against the company in federal court, claiming it violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act when it refused to hire the man.

Don’t tolerate ‘reverse harassment’ of supervisors

08/19/2015
Just as supervisors aren’t allowed to harass subordinates, subordinates aren’t allowed to harass bosses.

One religious comment doesn’t trump legitimate discipline

08/19/2015
Just because religion was mentioned at work doesn’t mean you will lose a religious harassment lawsuit.

DHR to Jack Link’s: Promote jerky, not jerk

08/19/2015
The Minnesota Department of Human Rights has settled a sexual harassment complaint against beef jerky maker Jack Link’s. A female employee at the company’s Mankato plant complained that her supervisor repeatedly hounded her for sex.

Court hints at MHRA ‘association’ bias cause

08/19/2015
A federal court considering a claim that the Minnesota Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in hiring against those “associated” with a disabled Minnesotan has hinted that, in the right circumstances, it would entertain such a lawsuit.

Male culture can be factor in sex bias case

08/19/2015
If your workplace appears to be dominated by men—especially at the highest levels of the company—then that could hurt your efforts to defend against a sex discrimination lawsuit. Fortunately, all other factors being equal, it won’t be a game-changer.

Can a church ask about an applicant’s religious beliefs?

08/13/2015
Q. As a church employer, is it legal for us to request an applicant to state his or her religious beliefs, or to require them to be of our beliefs?

Being yelled at isn’t grounds for quitting

08/13/2015
Not all workplaces are civil and pleasant environments. Supervisors and co-workers sometimes lose their tempers and raise their voices. If it doesn’t happen often and isn’t related to a protected characteristic such as race, occasional yelling  doesn’t justify quitting.