04/06/2015
Typically, protected activity involves going to the HR office or a supervisor and reporting harassment, discrimination or other perceived illegal treatment. For example, an employee who discovers a racial slur on the bathroom wall may report that to HR and that’s protected activity. But what if the employee, instead of going through channels, responds directly to the co-worker making a comment or caught writing graffiti?
04/06/2015
One of the worst things a supervisor can do is to tell an employee being discharged for poor attendance that the reason she’s unreliable is because she has children. At best, such a comment may trigger a claim of caretaker discrimination. At worst—especially if absences are to care for a disabled child—the comments can mean an ADA lawsuit based on association discrimination.
