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Terminations

Beware lawsuits when top brass spouts bias

09/13/2012
When those at the top of the organizational chart make racist and other offensive comments, trouble is sure to follow. Not only do slurs often bring negative publicity, but they also taint otherwise independent employment decisions.

August’s 5th Avenue sidewalk shooting was work-related

09/10/2012

Fashion-industry designer Jeffrey Johnson had a long-running feud with sales executive Steven Ercolino. Both are now dead. On Aug. 24, Johnson waited outside Hazan Import’s office on 5th Avenue near the Empire State Build­­ing. As Ercolino and a co-worker approached the office, Johnson pulled out a pistol and opened fire.

Houston defense firm pays up in ‘regarded as disabled’ case

09/04/2012
BAE Systems Tactical Vehicle Sys­­tems of Houston has agreed to settle a disability discrimination suit filed on behalf of a morbidly obese former employee.

Fired employee reinstated? That doesn’t excuse more misbehavior or poor performance

09/01/2012
Take heart if you have ever de­­cided to reinstate an employee or re­­scind discipline because the employee threatened litigation. Doing so won’t wipe clean his disciplinary record or imply that you admitted he’s living up to your expectations.

Worker fired for gross misconduct? No COBRA

09/01/2012
Employers can’t terminate em­­ployees just because a sick dependent increases health insurance costs for the employer. That violates ERISA. But if the employee is terminated for unrelated gross misconduct, he has no ERISA or COBRA claim.

Forsyth sheriff defends firing in motorcycle raffle kerfuffle

08/28/2012
Forsyth County Sheriff Bill Schatz­­man has denied any wrongdoing in the firing of Sgt. Michael T. Russell, an Iraq War veteran. Schatzman claims he fired Russell for “disloyalty.” Russell calls it retaliation.

Remind bosses: No comments about ethnicity

08/28/2012
There are some things supervisors just shouldn’t say even in jest—including anything concerning race, national origin or any other protected characteristic. Comments on those topics regularly come back to haunt employers when employees file discrimination lawsuits.

Is it legal to terminate a highly paid employee just because he earns so much?

08/23/2012

Q. We need to cut costs, and have started to explore trimming our staff, starting with those who earn far more than other employees. Are there any dangers in doing so? Can we legally fire a high-earner because of his salary?

Must we explain our reason for firing?

08/23/2012

Q. We recently terminated an employee. He claims he is legally entitled to a letter outlining the reasons for his discharge. Is he correct?

For unemployment, there’s stupid, then there’s willful

08/23/2012

Employees are typically ineligible for unemployment benefits if they were fired for creating a hostile work environment. That usually amounts to willful misconduct, which disqualifies them from collecting unemployment. But not every crude or stupid action is serious enough to bar benefits, as this case shows.