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Discrimination / Harassment

Hot yoga founder to pay $900K to settle harassment case

02/25/2016

A Los Angeles jury determined that Bikram Choudhury—founder of the “hot” movement that has swept the yoga world since the 1970s—harassed and retaliated against an employee after she resisted his sexual advances.

Could you be liable for employee’s suicide?

02/25/2016
Sometimes, workplace harassment can be so oppressive that an employee takes his own life. In some circumstances, those responsible for maintaining a workplace free of retaliation and harassment can be held liable for such a tragedy.

Mere threat of pay cut isn’t reason enough to sue

02/24/2016
Employees are expected to have relatively thick skins when it comes to how their bosses treat them. They aren’t supposed to overreact and quit at the drop of a hat.

Harassment occurring now? Ensure safety first

02/16/2016
When an employee reports sexual harassment that may place her in physical danger, act immediately. Do everything you can to keep the complaining employee safe. Only then should you start investigating.

Pregnancy protections expand, as do compliance obligations

02/12/2016
Federal and state laws protecting pregnant employees and prospective new parents continue to expand at a rapid rate.

Your new litigation danger: Conspiracy charges against rogue managers

02/12/2016

If managers somehow collude to discriminate against an employee, that may be grounds for a conspiracy lawsuit. It happened in a recent case.

Triborough Bridge & Tunnel Authority settles PDA claims

02/04/2016
The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority has agreed to settle charges it discriminated against female officers by automatically transferring them to less desirable assignments when the officers revealed they were pregnant.

Isolated, mild comments don’t add up to legitimate lawsuit

02/04/2016
Some terminated employees think that all they need to do to build a winning lawsuit is recall an offensive comment a supervisor once made. That’s not usually true.

Retire or you’re fired? Prepare for age bias suit

02/04/2016
It’s fine to offer an early retirement buyout. It’s a very bad idea to say that, if not enough older workers accept the offer, they might be fired.

Boss’s affair with someone else is no basis for third party’s bias or harassment suit

02/04/2016
The fact that a supervisor may favor a subordinate with whom he is romantically linked doesn’t justify a sex discrimination or harassment lawsuit by someone who isn’t involved in the affair.