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Discrimination / Harassment

Loose-Lips Alert: Train managers and supervisors that press comments carry weight

05/01/2007

If you don’t have a public relations department to handle press inquiries, make sure you train managers and supervisors on how not to talk to the press …

Lawsuit burns Teaneck Fire Department … yet again

05/01/2007

Teaneck Township will pay $750,000 to a firefighter to settle a race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, its second large settlement in a year …

Amputee fought discrimination, wins chance to fight fires

05/01/2007

The New Jersey Merit System Board has ruled that an amputee who wears a prosthetic leg must be reinstated to the hiring list of the Paterson Fire Department Academy, overturning the city’s attempts to bar him from entry …

Hell hath no fury … but $9 million should help

05/01/2007

A female executive told a jury she hit the glass ceiling after her boss created a new position above her and filled it with a male. She filed suit against her employer, an aircraft manufacturer, and was fired shortly afterward …

Prepare to justify policy barring former criminals

05/01/2007

Does your organization have a blanket policy of refusing to hire applicants with criminal records? If so, make sure you can explain exactly why. Because minority applicants may be statistically more likely to have criminal records, requiring a clean criminal-record history may have a disparate impact on a protected class and violate Title VII …

Nursing mom protected from discrimination? Maybe

05/01/2007

Some new mothers returning to work after giving birth request time off during the workday to express and store breast milk. Some states have passed specific laws protecting nursing women from harassment and discrimination …

Warn managers not to advise employees on litigation

05/01/2007

Too many managers and supervisors offer unsolicited advice to employees who’ve filed discrimination complaints. The suggestions usually include being more of a “team player” and “not rocking the boat.” Tell managers such “helpful” career tips can backfire badly …

Investigate claims to tackle harassment head-on

05/01/2007

When it comes to co-worker sexual harassment, it’s not enough to “fix” the problem by transferring the harasser. If you don’t also investigate the underlying complaint, expect a lawsuit when the harasser strikes again …

Consider consulting an attorney before stating why you terminated an employee

05/01/2007

If you’re about to fire an employee for misconduct, think about consulting an attorney before you commit the reason to writing. Sometimes no reason is better than one that could trigger a discrimination lawsuit …

‘Pig’ kept right on working; hospital going straight to court

05/01/2007

A former critical care director at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Passavant has filed suit against the hospital claiming gender discrimination and retaliation …