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Discrimination / Harassment

This would so require Don Draper to fix a drink

12/05/2012
The fear of being sued became a self-fulfilling prophecy for Collin De Rham, a screenwriter for the hit cable series “Mad Men,” and his wife after they fired the nanny who cared for their young child.

A slam-dunk lawsuit? NBA charged with gender bias

12/05/2012
The National Basketball Association faces a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by a woman who was once a senior account executive for the league.

Former CEO claims Brooklyn credit union retaliated

12/05/2012
The former head of the Brooklyn-based Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union is suing the financial institution, claiming he was fired because he refused to follow its policy: hiring only workers of Polish descent.

EEOC can order employer to keep former harasser away

12/05/2012
Most employers think that once they fire a harasser, the matter should be pretty much over. But the EEOC has now won the right to order an employer never to rehire a harasser and to ban him from the premises indefinitely.

Employee refuses to cooperate with internal investigation? That’s a firing offense

12/05/2012
Just as employers have a responsibility to investigate allegations of wrongdoing, employees have an obligation to cooperate with internal investigations. Refusing to do so can be grounds for termination.

Boss embroils steakhouse in same-sex harassment case

12/05/2012
Sparks Steakhouse in Midtown Man­­hattan will pay $600,000 to settle a same-sex harassment lawsuit that alleged the upscale eatery did nothing to stop a male manager from groping waiters.

Court: Being a tough boss is perfectly legal

12/05/2012
There’s no state or federal law that requires work to be easy or fun. As long as managers treat employees alike—without regard to race, age, sex or other protected characteristic, and don’t otherwise violate the law—they can be as unpleasant as they want.

Warn top brass: Avoid appearance of impropriety

12/05/2012
CEOs and other high-ranking company officials should do all they can to avoid even the appearance of impropriety at work, on business trips and when socializing with employees. Reason: Even innocent behavior can be made to look like harassment.

Court imposes anti-harassment policy on San Antonio company

12/03/2012
A federal judge has ordered AA Foun­­dries to take steps to stop workplace racial harassment after the San Antonio manufacturer lost a lawsuit filed by the EEOC. A jury awarded $200,000 to three black employees who accused a plant superintendent of routine racial harassment.

Conduct mandatory training to prevent supervisor harassment

12/03/2012
The U.S. Supreme Court and federal agencies look askance at employers that don’t train employees and supervisors how to prevent, detect and report harassment. As a practical matter, such training is essentially required.