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Discrimination / Harassment

When alleged harasser holds high rank, take extra care to thoroughly investigate

09/24/2018
If a worker comes to HR with a complaint that someone has sent him sexually oriented images, take that report seriously—especially if the alleged sender is a supervisor.

Not all shift change denials are retaliation

09/24/2018
Courts have long held that, after an employee files a discrimination complaint, it may be retaliation to change her shift to punish her. But what if the complaining employee requests a shift change and the employer denies that change?

Turning a deaf ear to insults: A $500,000 mistake

09/20/2018
Your managers probably know it’s unlawful to discriminate in hiring and firing based on a person’s age or disability. But they may not realize that same law makes it unlawful to verbally harass workers based on those protected characteristics.

Hotel panic buttons are sign of #MeToo’s clout

09/20/2018
Other than a flurry of anti-harassment training, concrete action to prevent workplace harassment since the #MeToo movement took off has been notably absent—until now.

First employee walk-outs related to #MeToo movement

09/20/2018
On Sept. 18, female employees at McDonald’s franchises in nearly a dozen cities staged a one-day walkout to pressure the company to get tough on managers who sexually harass workers in the restaurants.

EEOC lawsuit? Be sure to track when employee filed

09/13/2018
Generally, an employee has 90 days after receiving an EEOC right-to-sue letter to file a federal discrimination lawsuit. But counting out just 90 days may not be good enough.

Can’t accommodate religion? Prove hardship

09/13/2018
Once the employee shows her need for religious accommodation, the burden shifts to the employer to show that it is unable to accommodate the religious need without undue hardship.

Beware perils of mandated religious practices

09/13/2018
The “culture war” over evangelical religious beliefs and practices is beginning to affect how HR professionals must balance the rights of company owners and their employees.

Commuting distance: A new excuse for bias?

09/13/2018
HR pros know all about the usual forms of discrimination: race, sex, age, national origin, disability and so forth. Are we about to add another category to the list of characteristics on which bias claims may be based?

Train bosses: You must report all harassment

09/05/2018
Anyone who sees harassment happening should say something to the appropriate company office or individual in charge of preventing and stopping harassment. The EEOC takes this “see something, say something” reporting requirement very seriously.