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Discrimination / Harassment

When employee alleges management bias, don’t blindly accept the boss’s denial

09/26/2012
Surprise! Some of your supervisors may be biased—something they would probably deny if confronted. If an employee complains that her boss is prejudiced, don’t just accept the manager’s protestations of innocence as the last word. Investigate instead.

Newly promoted boss not working out?

09/26/2012
Not every employee is cut out for management. Someone who was a true asset as a skilled worker may be a bust after being promoted. If that happens in your organization, exercise patience before terminating.

Philly security firm sued over Muslim head scarf

09/26/2012
The EEOC is suing ABM Security Services, which provides guards for the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, for religious discrimination after an employee claimed she was forced to choose between keeping her job and wearing her traditional Muslim head covering.

Document solid reasons for firing complainer

09/26/2012
Employees who complain can be annoying, especially if you believe their gripes don’t have merit. But firing such an employee can be dangerous because complaining about discrimination or other legal issues is protected activity that can’t be punished.

The price for tolerating name-calling: $70,000

09/25/2012
If you need any incentive to crack down on name-calling in the workplace, consider this new ruling: A jury slapped a $70,000 judgment on an employer for allowing a supervisor to repeatedly call his female subordinate a “bitch.”

Fry’s pays $2.3 million to settle harassment complaint

09/21/2012
Fry’s Electronics, which operates 17 stores in California, will pay $2.3 million to settle sexual harassment and retaliation complaints arising from incidents at a store in Washington. On a per-claimant basis, the case resulted in one of the largest settlements the EEOC has ever negotiated.

Making economic argument for staff cuts? Better make sure the math adds up

09/21/2012
Here’s something for small business owners to consider when purporting to terminate an employee for financial reasons. If the owner spends lavishly elsewhere, that may be evidence that money was just an excuse for a discriminatory termination.

Bullet-proof your promotions process

09/21/2012

Your best defense to a failure-to-promote claim is proof that you posted the job but the employee never applied. But how do you prove that? With a policy that requires posting all internal openings and also requires employees to express their interest by actually applying …

It’s all hilarious … until someone sues

09/21/2012
You know the gags: Post-it notes labeling everything in Greg’s cubicle. Duct-taping Stacey’s office door. Photoshopping Dave’s picture on a photo of a Sumo wrestler. But what should you do when the jokes go too far?

Federal courts take a second swing at Prospect

09/20/2012
A federal judge has ordered Chicago-based Prospect Airport Services to implement an anti-harassment program after determining that the company ignored previous court orders issued after it settled an EEOC harassment suit in 2010.