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Discrimination / Harassment

Illinois bucks feds on electronic employee verification

11/01/2007

The Illinois legislature sent a shot across the bow of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in August. It passed a law that forbids state employers from using the feds’ electronic E-Verify system to confirm employees’ eligibility to work unless the government can prove the system provides accurate and timely employee information 99% of the time …

Get input from several managers before firing problem worker

11/01/2007

If you have long-term employees whose performances are deteriorating, step carefully. Their long histories with the company could mean you’ll have a hard time justifying terminations even in light of poor performances. Instead of jumping the gun and firing immediately, take your time. In fact, it may be a good idea to allow more than one supervisor to witness each declining employee performance up close …

Statements about race may trigger reverse discrimination

11/01/2007

When it comes to reverse discrimination, comments by senior managers may backfire if others perceive them as encouraging racial preferences. For example, when a high-level executive comments that the organization needs more black employees in management positions, hiring managers could construe it as authorization to bypass qualified white candidates in favor of black candidates with lesser qualifications …

Planned Parenthood defends race discrimination case

11/01/2007

Planned Parenthood Centers of West Michigan in Grand Rapids won a race discrimination case filed by a black health care specialist, who was fired for falsifying patient records and dispensing emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) without required staff approvals …

Michigan employers make Best Places to Work for GLBT

11/01/2007

Seven Michigan employers made the 2007 list of “Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality,” a ranking of employers’ policies toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) employees. The Human Rights Campaign publishes the list annually …

Consider ADA, discrimination, validity issues when using personality tests

11/01/2007

Some employers use personality or psychological tests to screen applicants and employees being considered for jobs or promotions. Proponents say personality tests are an economical way of screening employees. However, critics argue that these tests might not accurately predict an individual’s honesty, integrity or other personality traits. Others say the tests violate the employee’s privacy …

Respond right away to avoid costly judgments

11/01/2007

Train everyone in your organization who might receive legal documents—from the mailroom clerk to the front-desk receptionist—to pass them on to management ASAP. Misplaced pleadings can mean an easy win for the person suing. What’s worse, if you miss important deadlines, you’ll lose any chance you might have had to get the case tossed out …

Savannah’s Berkow dropped from LAPD sex-Discrimination suit

11/01/2007

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Chief Michael Berkow was dropped from the sex-discrimination lawsuit that has dogged him since he took office in Georgia last year …

U.S. Supreme Court tosses out Best Buy discrimination suit

11/01/2007

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a sex-discrimination case brought by a general manager of a Best Buy store in Savannah. The lawsuit accused Best Buy of firing the manager because she complained to a company hotline that her supervisor sexually discriminated against her …

It depends on how you define ‘Overheard’

11/01/2007
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