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Discrimination / Harassment

New guidelines sound alarm on race, color bias

06/01/2006

The EEOC just revamped its guidance on racial and color discrimination in the workplace. These changes signal increased race-bias enforcement, plus more EEOC attention to "subtle" discrimination …

Don’t let opinions of employees cloud your decisions

06/01/2006
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Inappropriate nicknames can lead to bias lawsuits

06/01/2006
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‘Excellent’ job review can still be considered retaliation

06/01/2006

Giving someone an "excellent" performance rating may seem like a nondiscriminatory act. But, as a new court case shows, high praise can still be deemed retaliation if the review is worse than a previous one and it hurts the employee’s ability to earn a bonus or promotion …

Rid handbooks of risky outdated policies

06/01/2006

If it’s been awhile since the last overhaul of your employee handbook, you may be courting danger. Establish a regular revision schedule for your handbook, updating it once a year or whenever significant statutory changes occur …

Team-Building Events: Fun is good; employee humiliation is bad

06/01/2006

It’s summertime, and corporate thoughts turn to company picnics and outdoor morale-boosting efforts. One word of caution: If your team-building exercises go beyond three-legged sack races and into the realm of reality TV, you could be headed for a lawsuit …

Don’t editorialize about merits of employee complaints

06/01/2006

Process every employee complaint without commenting on its merits or on the potential consequences of making the complaint. Remind managers to do the same. Never make snide comments …

All day Sunday off may be a reasonable accommodation

06/01/2006

If you require employees to work Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays, be aware that some employees may object on religious grounds. If they do, you’re required by Title VII to make reasonable ccommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs. And, surprisingly, that right may extend to the entire day off, not just long enough to attend religious services …

What’s the cost of a few racist managers? $2 million

06/01/2006

In a recent EEOC race discrimination settlement, Cracker Barrel agreed to pay more than $2 million to 51 current and former employees because of supervisors’ actions at three of its Illinois restaurants …

Are Employee Protests a ‘Protected’ Activity?

06/01/2006

Recent immigration-related rallies have led many employees, mostly minority ones, to skip work on those days. That action sparked an important question in HR circles: How should employers react to unexcused absences caused by employees’ attending political protests? …