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Training

Hey, customers! Guess what? We are sexual harassers!

05/01/2007

Do you have to tell your customers if you’re slapped with a sexual harassment verdict? You soon might have to. In a startling new court ruling, a judge in Illinois required a company to distribute a notice to its customers informing them of the $1 million sexual harassment verdict levied against it …

Ignoring discrimination policy may lead to punitive damages

05/01/2007

Train supervisors and managers to report religious and other discrimination, and be sure they know not to retaliate against anyone who does come forward. Ohio state law bars discrimination based on religion and other protected characteristics, and employees who can show they were discriminated against can collect punitive damages …

Loose-Lips Alert: Train managers and supervisors that press comments carry weight

05/01/2007

If you don’t have a public relations department to handle press inquiries, make sure you train managers and supervisors on how not to talk to the press …

Warn managers not to advise employees on litigation

05/01/2007

Too many managers and supervisors offer unsolicited advice to employees who’ve filed discrimination complaints. The suggestions usually include being more of a “team player” and “not rocking the boat.” Tell managers such “helpful” career tips can backfire badly …

Pay back for training costs

05/01/2007

Q. Training in our field is pretty specialized and expensive. We don’t mind investing in our employees, but want to make sure that we get the benefit of the training. We have a requirement that newly trained employees must continue to work for us for at least six months following their training, or they are required to pay back the company. Our problem is how to make sure they pay it. Can we deduct it from their last paycheck?—D.B.

Train managers on FMLA or risk double damages

04/01/2007

Make it a point to train supervisors on how to manage employees’ leaves that could be covered under the FMLA. Otherwise, don’t expect to plead ignorance if they make a mistake. A court could zap you with double damages under the FMLA’s liquidated-damages rule …

Lessons From Strip-Search Case: Train Managers on ‘Dignity’

04/01/2007

When managers suspect theft, it’s easy for tempers to rise. But don’t allow the incident to erupt into an ugly confrontation and public humiliation of employees …

Goodyear to pay $925,000 to settle gender bias suit

04/01/2007

Akron-based Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. will pay $925,000 to a class of more than 800 women whom it turned down for tire-making jobs in its Danville, Va., plant in 1998 and 1999 …

‘Anti-Mom’ comments can trigger messy discrimination lawsuits

04/01/2007

It’s not only illegal to discriminate against females in the work force, it’s also illegal to show bias against certain subsets of women …

Planning for a pandemic flu: Is your organization prepared?

04/01/2007

After preparing for Y2K, anthrax and hurricanes, HR and legal professionals must now turn their attention to pandemic planning …