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Employment Law

Jury awards $150,000 to worker in Tarrant County retaliation case

03/01/2007

A Tarrant County jury has awarded more than $150,000 in damages to a former animal control officer who sued the city of Burleson for wrongful discharge …

Houston manufacturer settles bias lawsuit with 78 employees

03/01/2007

A federal district court judge in Texas recently approved a settlement to resolve allegations of national-origin discrimination against QuietFlex Manufacturing Co …

Can telecommuters file lawsuits in their home state?

03/01/2007

Before allowing employees to work from home or another remote location, consider the risk of making your organization liable under anti-discrimination laws in the state or city where that telecommuter lives …

Seek Written OK for Internal-Complaint Resolutions

03/01/2007

The aim of any good harassment policy is to stop problems before they turn into a litigation nightmare. Reaching a compromise early, even when you aren’t convinced anything illegal has happened, makes sense if that settlement doesn’t lead to a retaliation lawsuit later …

Before reorganization, draw up a staff contingency plan

03/01/2007

Are you planning to use an early-retirement incentive to help reduce the size of your work force? If so, it’s wise to prepare contingency plans for the remaining open positions and carefully document them …

Allow accusers to bypass supervisor to file complaints

03/01/2007

A sexual harassment policy is worthless unless it clues in those who really need to know what’s going on at the shop level. Don’t think you’re in the clear just because you have a policy and tell supervisors to stamp out harassment …

Failing to pay overtime? You could face a double whammy under federal and state law

03/01/2007

New York employers should be aware of a potential double hit if they fail to pay employees the correct amount of overtime pay: The Fair Labor Standards Act entitles employees to double the amount of overtime pay they’re due, and the New York State Labor Law tacks on an additional 25 percent bonus …

Notify workers’ compensation carrier of potential claims as soon as possible

03/01/2007

Many employment-based insurance policies, including workers’ compensation, require employers to notify their carriers of a potential claim “as soon as practicable.” Insurance companies have been known to refuse to defend a case if the policyholder doesn’t promptly report an accident or injury …

Keep references to past litigation out of employees’ personnel files

03/01/2007

A group of black and Hispanic police officers have accused the NYPD of harassment for noting in their personnel files that they were complainants in a discrimination suit. The notations could damage their careers, their attorney says …

NYC firefighters’ burning issue: Is a Locker ‘Private Space’?

03/01/2007

Responding to complaints about pornographic and hostile messages displayed on firefighters’ lockers, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) asked superior officers to oversee the removal of all offensive materials …