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Discrimination / Harassment

Former Richardson pastor faces sex charges—Again

02/01/2008

Darrell Gilyard, head of 700-member Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL, is in hot water for a second time over charges of sexual misconduct with members of his flock. Gilyard was a rising star at Victory Baptist Church in Richardson, TX …

Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act

02/01/2008
The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) prohibits discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation, religion, disability, race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry …

Colorado Lifestyle Discrimination Law

02/01/2008
The Colorado Lifestyle Discrimination Law protects employees who engage in legal activities, such as using tobacco or alcohol when not at work. And unlike the lifestyle discrimination laws in other states, Colorado’s statute has an unusual twist: It specifically lists marriage and planning to marry as protected legal activities …

Minnesota Human Rights Act

02/01/2008
The Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) is the state’s super anti-discrimination law combining the elements of several federal laws, including Title VII, the ADEA and the ADA. While those federal anti-discrimination laws cover employers with 15 or more employees, the MHRA covers all employers regardless of size …

Minnesota Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Act

02/01/2008
Minnesota’s Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace Act (DATWA) limits employers’ ability to test employees and independent contractors for illegal drugs and alcohol. While DATWA does not require employers to perform drug testing, it governs the process if employers elect to do so …

Local Ordinances in Minnesota

02/01/2008
Local governments in Minnesota sometimes legislate their own rules for employers within their jurisdictions. For example, Minneapolis and St. Paul have living-wage laws stipulating higher pay than the state minimum wage ($6.15 per hour for large employers), while a Duluth ordinance prohibits discrimination based on familial status …

Record $2.5M Race-Discrimination Settlement Highlights New EEOC Crackdown

01/15/2008

On-the-job racism in America is a growing problem more than 40 years after the Civil Rights Act made employment discrimination illegal. That’s why the EEOC has launched a new education and enforcement initiative called E-RACE (Eradicating Racism and Colorism from Employment.).

Washington Update: News from the NLRB, EEOC and USCIS

01/15/2008

The New Year often brings a flurry of activity from the many federal government agencies that address employment issues, and 2008 is no exception. We’ve got good news on employers’ control over workplace e-mail, bad news for employers who discriminate and mixed news for those who want to hire foreign workers.

Even ‘Secondhand’ porn can create an illegally hostile environment

01/08/2008

Any presence of pornography in the workplace can spark expensive, reputation-draining lawsuits. You need a policy of zero tolerance: No adult material anywhere, anytime — not on office computers, in e-mails, on videotapes or DVDs.

EEOC rule allows coordination of retiree health benefits with Medicare

01/03/2008

The EEOC has issued a final rule allowing the long-standing employer practice of coordinating retiree health benefits with Medicare without violating the age discrimination law. The new reg ends a seven-year battle to ensure  "bridge" coverage for younger retirees.