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Discrimination / Harassment

Ensure similar infractions are similarly punished

06/02/2016
Make sure that you punish similar transgressions fairly and equally. That’s especially true for serious rules violations. A pattern of punishing one protected class more severely than another is sure to lead to litigation.

For federal employees, complaint clock starts ticking on date of adverse decision

06/02/2016
Federal employees have just 45 days after a discriminatory act or decision to file an internal complaint.

Excluding women isn’t an acceptable sexual harassment-prevention strategy

06/02/2016
Employers are obligated to provide a work environment free of sexual harassment. They can’t satisfy that responsibility by segregating the workforce by gender, even if doing so would certainly prevent harassment.

No matter how unlikely the allegations, always investigate reverse sex discrimination

05/31/2016
Here’s a reminder that it’s not just women who can allege sex discrimination and a hostile work environment. Men can, too, under the right circumstances.

After harassment, be careful who you transfer

05/26/2016
If you fear for an employee’s safety after he has complained about a hostile work environment, think twice before transferring him instead of the person or people who are the source of the hostility.

Three cases form basis of EEOC’s stance on transgender bias

05/18/2016
On May 9, North Carolina sued the U.S. Department of Justice to stop the federal government from ordering the state to set aside its Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act—the so-called transgender bathroom bill.

EEOC: Discrimination based on transgender status is unlawful

05/13/2016
State and federal laws, as well as EEOC enforcement actions, provide increasingly clear guidance for employers on how to address the rights of transgender employees.

Somalis allege retaliation for discussing work conditions

05/13/2016
A group of Somali school bus drivers in Minneapolis claim they were fired after they started a group to discuss discrimination and working conditions.

Police officers’ age bias case reinstated

05/13/2016
A Minnesota appeals court has given the go-ahead for an age discrimination lawsuit filed by three police officers against the city of Richfield to proceed to trial.

Target makes a stand in the battle of the bathrooms

05/13/2016
Retail giant Target, based in Min­ne­apolis, has become a flashpoint in the culture wars over the suddenly urgent issue of transgender bathroom use.