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Retaliation

She said, he said, she said: Counterclaim isn’t retaliation

11/08/2016
A federal court has refused to entertain overturning a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that says filing a counterclaim to a lawsuit or even a separate lawsuit against an employee isn’t the basis for a retaliation claim.

Employee’s poor performance trumps his retaliation claim

11/08/2016
An employee who alleges he suffered retaliation for engaging in protected activity can still lose the case even if he proves the retaliation would have dissuaded a reasonable employee from complaining in the first place.

Getting the cold shoulder after reporting discrimination doesn’t add up to retaliation

11/08/2016
Slights and on-the-job isolation are not enough for an employee to make out a case for retaliation for reporting discrimination or participating in litigation against one’s employer.

Drug testing still legal under new OSHA reporting rule

11/01/2016
A controversial new OSHA rule cracking down on retaliation against safety whistleblowers doesn’t ban employee drug testing.

Prepare to prove firing wasn’t retaliation

10/12/2016
If an employee complained about a supervisor’s actions, make sure the supervisor can’t manipulate the disciplinary process to punish the worker.

EEOC doesn’t dig NYC excavation firm’s harassment

10/12/2016
The EEOC has sued the Laquila Group alleging it tolerated racial harassment of black employees and retaliated against at least one who complained.

Prepare to explain budget reason for job cuts

09/29/2016
If an employee alleges she lost her job during a reduction in force because of discrimination or retaliation, counter that claim by showing there were real economic reasons for letting her go.

Death threat? Yeah, that’s reason to quit

09/26/2016
It goes without saying that you can’t tolerate a supervisor who threatens to kill a subordinate. It’s not good enough to suspend him without pay and then let him come back after a lengthy leave.

Retaliation? Not if you can prove you would have fired anyone else

09/22/2016
Don’t despair if you need to fire the worker for reasons unrelated to her EEOC complaint.

Firing OK for cheating discovered during FMLA

09/15/2016
Employees who take FMLA leave are entitled to return to their old jobs or equivalent ones. But what if you learn during an employee’s time out on FMLA leave that she wasn’t everything you believed her to be?