• The HR Specialist - Print Newsletter
  • HR Specialist: Employment Law
  • The HR Weekly

Discrimination / Harassment

Brooklyn fish plant on the hook for race, sexual harassment

02/01/2010

Black workers at M. Slavin & Sons Fish processing plant in Brooklyn allege bosses there continually sexually harass black workers by grabbing their buttocks, pressing against them and occasionally jabbing their backsides with fishhooks. The workers have filed a complaint with the EEOC.

Paterson extends protections to transgender workers

02/01/2010

Gov. David Paterson has issued an executive order providing state employees with protection from discrimination because of their transgender status. The move is one step ahead of the state Legislature. Bills currently circulating in Albany would cover both public and private employers.

Retaliation nation: Manage adverse actions to lessen retaliation

02/01/2010

Virtually every federal employment law has an anti-retaliation provision—they would be toothless tigers without them. Employees who can’t prove outright discrimination often try the retaliation route. The EEOC handled a record-high 33,613 retaliation complaints in 2009. As a result, employers must tread carefully when dealing with an employee who has exercised his or her rights under any federal law.

Hunch about societal racism isn’t enough to make bias case

01/27/2010

With poor economic times come layoffs and reassignments. When these adverse events hit home, some employees may suspect they’ve experienced discrimination. But unless they have something concrete to hang their cases on, courts will toss out such cases.

Prof at California University alleges gender discrimination

01/27/2010

A psychology professor at the state-run California University of Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit claiming that pressure from higher-ups has kept her from being promoted.

Camden settles race bias case for $1.15 million

01/25/2010

Two black deputy fire chiefs have accepted a $1.15 million settlement to end their race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the city of Camden and two Camden fire chiefs.

OK to suggest retiring in lieu of getting fired: It’s not age discrimination

01/25/2010

Employees who claim they have experienced age discrimination must prove that age was the reason for an adverse employment action, such as termination or demotion. It’s not enough to show that a supervisor merely referred to the employee’s age. As the following case shows, merely suggesting retirement in lieu of discharge isn’t enough.

Enforce policy to prove you don’t tolerate harassment

01/25/2010

Simply having an anti-harassment policy isn’t enough. Employers have to use it when faced with a violation. When you do, make sure you document what you did to remedy the problem.

Lawnside settles police dept. bias case for $350,000

01/25/2010

The Borough of Lawnside has agreed to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed by a female police officer who alleged she began experiencing harassment and discrimination almost from Day 1.

Understand GINA’s new prohibitions on misuse of genetic info

01/25/2010

Interim final regulations implementing the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 are now in effect for group health care insurers with plan years beginning on or after Dec. 7, 2009. If you offer group health coverage, that means you must understand and comply with GINA’s anti-discrimination provisions relating to genetic information.