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Discrimination / Harassment

Planning layoffs? Check age demographics before and after proposed RIF

09/16/2011
Before you implement an involuntary reduction in force, make sure you determine whether you’re vul­­nerable to an age discrimination lawsuit. You can do this by seeing what percentage of the workforce was over age 40 before the planned layoff …

3M to pay $3M to settle age bias suit

09/16/2011
Minnesota-based 3M has agreed to pay $3 million to 290 former em­­ployees to settle an EEOC lawsuit that claimed layoffs in 2003 and 2006 disproportionately targeted workers age 45 and older.

PwC sued for alleged bias, retaliation in Tampa office

09/13/2011
An Arab-American of Moroccan descent has charged consulting giant PwC (formerly Pricewaters­houseCoopers) with discrimination and retaliation after it fired him and allegedly orchestrated his firing from another firm.

Quitting for sex harassment warrants unemployment comp

09/13/2011
Employees who can show they quit their jobs because of unresolved complaints about sexual harassment are entitled to unemployment benefits.

Court: Isolated risqué comments aren’t enough to create a hostile work environment

09/13/2011
Not every inappropriate comment in the workplace is grounds for a lawsuit. Even several isolated comments don’t necessarily make the workplace hostile, especially if they aren’t directed at the complaining employee.

Following up: The most important, yet most overlooked, part of HR investigations

09/13/2011

When employees complain about alleged discrimination or harassment, smart HR pros make it a point to check back regularly with the employee who voiced the complaint. Then, they document those conversations and address any problems reported by the employee. This simple step carries two important benefits.

Be prepared to defend retaliation lawsuit if fired worker had ever complained to HR

09/09/2011

Fired employees seeking money (or revenge) often wrack their brains to recall incidents that might justify a sexual harassment or discrimination lawsuit. Suddenly, that casual complaint to HR starts to look like a pretext for their discharge—at least in their minds and their attorneys’. That’s why you should assume that every complaint will become the basis for a lawsuit.

Was accent on no accents at tony Princeton Club?

09/07/2011
New York City’s Princeton Club faces a lawsuit alleging it terminated a long-time employee because of her accent. The employee claims the club fired her after nearly 30 years of service because a new general manager found Hispanic accents “embarrassing.”

Diverse workplaces may spur additional lawsuits

09/07/2011
Employers are discovering that having a diverse workplace may mean more lawsuits. Why? Employees belonging to groups that traditionally haven’t experienced discrimination may find more reasons to sue.

Bloomberg beats EEOC in pregnancy-discrimination class action

09/07/2011
The media empire Bloomberg L.P. has won a huge victory in a case championed by the EEOC. The agency had claimed that Bloomberg discriminated companywide against women who became pregnant and returned to work.