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Discrimination / Harassment

Policy alone won’t fend off harassment suit

05/03/2018
You may think having a solid sexual harassment policy is all it takes to thwart a sexual harassment lawsuit. Not if the policy isn’t being followed!

Caste bias may pose new litigation risk

05/03/2018
Discrimination between members of protected classes is just as illegal under Title VII as discrimination by members of a majority class against minorities. Now there is a growing interest in a different form of intraracial discrimination: bias by some Indian Americans against members of lower castes.

Run internal audit to uncover hiring bias

05/03/2018
It’s entirely possible for employment discrimination to fly under HR’s radar. All it takes is too much trust that hiring managers wouldn’t knowingly violate your anti-discrimination policies. That’s why it’s critical to regularly audit your organization’s hiring practices.

Philly’s Dechert law firm settles discrimination claims

04/30/2018
The giant Dechert law firm, founded in Philadelphia in 1875, has agreed to settle charges it fired two workers from its payroll department because of their age and gender.

Recent medical diagnosis? Consider accommodations

04/30/2018
Sometimes an employee discovers she may have a disability, or that it’s time to disclose one she had been keeping secret. How the employer responds to that information may prevent an ADA discrimination lawsuit—or trigger one.

Denial of basic training opportunity doesn’t rise to the level of sex discrimination

04/30/2018
Not every negative thing that happens amounts to retaliation or discrimination. Employees have to show that any “punishment” they experienced significantly changed the conditions of employment.

Ensure fair treatment after return to work

04/30/2018
The ADA and the Pennsylvania Human Rights Act protect disabled workers from harassment based on their disability. Make sure everyone, including co-workers and supervisors, understands they cannot punish a disabled employee for taking leave.

Minor annoyance doesn’t warrant lawsuit

04/30/2018
Few courts want to mediate petty disputes. Judges have more important matters to attend to. Just ask the judge who issued a caustic ruling in this recent case.

S.F. firefighters’ age bias suit goes down in flames

04/30/2018
The decade-long age discrimination litigation saga of 15 San Francisco firefighters has come to an end.

Worker taking high road can still quit & sue

04/26/2018
Typically, workers sue after being fired or otherwise subjected to an adverse employment action such as a demotion. But sometimes, aggrieved employees can quit and still sue, alleging that their working conditions were so severe that they had no choice but to leave.