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Discrimination / Harassment

Ex-NYC parks employee sues, details raunchy parties

02/09/2015
A former New York City Department of Parks & Recreation employee has filed a discrimination and retaliation suit against the city after she was fired after complaining about pervasive sexual harassment. Although city investigators largely corroborated her complaints against two supervisors, the woman lost her job.

Set hiring standards that let you select best candidate

02/09/2015
Employers are free to set hiring standards and then to pick from the most qualified applicants. Disappointed applicants can’t sue just because they believe they were somehow discriminated against. They have to offer some proof that the employer didn’t hire the best-qualified applicant.

Be sure you can justify reason why promoted worker didn’t get raise

02/09/2015

Most employees who are promoted see that as a vote of confidence and assume their new responsibilities will include more money or other tangible benefits. But what if you don’t want to raise pay?

Beware slow-to-emerge need for accommodation

02/09/2015
Expect a court fight if you reject an applicant you previously agreed to hire because you discovered a hard-to-accommodate disability.

More than a matter of style: Grooming rules can differ based on gender

02/05/2015

If you have a dress and grooming policy that sets out different rules for men and women, you aren’t necessarily setting yourself up for a sex discrimination lawsuit. As several court rulings have shown, you can have different rules based on gender—as long as you enforce those rules even-handedly.

New sex discrimination rules proposed for federal contractors

02/04/2015
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a proposal for new rules clarifying federal contractors’ requirements to prohibit sex discrimination.

Harassment? Don’t hide behind handbook

02/04/2015
The fact is, when an employer learns about harassment from any source, it must investigate and act. Ignoring the problem just because an employee was afraid to formally report sexual harassment won’t work.

Factor transgender discrimination into equal opportunity policies

02/02/2015

Although most employers have policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment based on an em­­ployee’s sex, race and religion, many have not yet added gender identity to the list of protected categories. The lack of protection has real consequences for transgender individuals.

Court: EEOC off the hook for $4.7M in legal fees

02/02/2015
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned a lower court ruling awarding the CRST trucking company $4.7 million in legal fees. A lower court had awarded the fees after it determined the EEOC failed to conduct its conciliation process in good faith.

Allegheny, Pa. 911 operators’ lawsuit alleges race bias

02/02/2015
Three former 911 dispatchers have filed suit against Allegheny County, Pa., alleging it discriminated against them because of their race. One dispatcher also claims she was subject to sexual harassment.