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Discrimination / Harassment

Straight talk, business reasons help shoot down bias lawsuit

04/01/2000
Vendors, customers and employees had complained about Jane Sturdivan, a 59-year-old office manager. But her fate was sealed when a 24-year-old office accountant …

Seinfeld jokester loses award

04/01/2000
If you were stunned when a jury awarded $26.6 million to Jerold Mackenzie for wrongful discharge after he was fired for discussing a sexual innuendo …

Workers at smallest firms using ‘public policy’ loophole to file suits

04/01/2000
If you operate a small business, don’t take it for granted that you’re immune from state discrimination laws. It’s true that state anti-bias laws don’t apply …

The $500,000 question: Are your hiring tests legal?

04/01/2000
If you use a test to screen job applicants, make sure it isn’t unfairly blocking certain groups. Dupont used a written test for entry-level …

Labor is following through on pay-equity crackdown

04/01/2000
Sunoco Inc. is one of the latest companies caught up in the federal government’s increased enforcement of equal pay laws. The company was ordered to pay a total of $250,000 …

Keep your nose out of employees’ off-duty activities

04/01/2000
The more you consider limiting the actions of workers while they’re off the clock, the closer you step toward a lawsuit. More than half the states have laws protecting …

New risk: Workers can claim retaliation even if there’s no adverse job action

03/01/2000
Judy Morris’ supervisor at the county road department first evaluated Morris’ job performance as “excellent.” Later, he rated her as “very good.” The supervisor said …

Limit sensitive meetings to ‘need-to-know’ managers

03/01/2000
During a management meeting, an operations director warned Karen Bishop, a human resources manager, not to share information with another employee whom …

Apply consistent policy on employee searches, and get written OK first

03/01/2000
Elvis Stewart carried a duffel bag so he could change uniforms between working at a Taco Bell during the day and a McDonald’s inside …

Women-hating comments, even if not sexual, can equal sexual harassment

03/01/2000
Elizabeth Smith got hit with a double whammy: a harassing boss and a company that didn’t take it seriously. In the end, the company’s lax response cost it big-time …