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Employment Law

EEOC: Restaurant owner harassed teen employees

07/02/2019
The EEOC is suing Tosca Americana Italian Kitchen, a restaurant in the Houston suburb of Atascocita, alleging one of its owners regularly harassed female employees, some of whom were underage.

Same broken rule, different discipline: Show why you punished one more harshly

06/28/2019
Courts like to see employers equally treat workers who break the same rules. That doesn’t mean employers have no wiggle room. The key is to document why one worker deserves a different punishment than another for breaking the same rule.

Warn young bosses against comments that trigger suits

06/27/2019
Sometimes, new supervisors don’t realize the long-term harm a few unwelcome comments can create. Take, for example, calling an older worker “pa” or “young feller.” That could be the germ of an age discrimination lawsuit.

Never retaliate for any past EEOC cooperation

06/27/2019
Here’s a warning to share with supervisors: If they find out an employee has participated in an EEOC investigation as a witness in the past, you cannot punish him for that protected activity.

Audit your potential for discrimination liability

06/27/2019
Some industries and workplaces are at higher than usual risk for discrimination and harassment claims. Any workplace that has a largely homogeneous workforce may create special risks for the few workers who are different.

Board diversity an emerging issue on Capitol Hill, reality in California

06/25/2019
The House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing June 20 on proposals to increase diversity on the boards of directors that guide corporations.

Study: Age, obesity trigger rise in disability claims

06/25/2019
A study of 10 years’ worth of claims data by the Unum insurance group shows an alarming jump in the number of disability claims related to joint disorders and other musculoskeletal problems

Quick response is a lifesaver in harassment cases

06/20/2019
Remind supervisors to react immediately to harassment complaints, at least by notifying HR.

How to improve the FMLA? DOL wants your ideas

06/20/2019
Even after 25 years, compliance with the FMLA still confuses and trips up employers. Recognizing this, the U.S. Department of Labor says it will soon seek public comments on ways to improve FMLA regulations.

Trade union lawyers target age discrimination

06/20/2019
If you think labor unions only cause trouble for employers that find themselves on the wrong side of a picket line, think again. At least one union has become a driving force in a nationwide effort to ferret out age discrimination and file class-action lawsuits to make it stop.