Discrimination / Harassment

EEOC: Domestic violence victims may be protected from job bias

12/10/2012

A new fact sheet from the EEOC clarifies that Title VII and the ADA “may apply to employment situations involving applicants and employees who experience domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.” You may need to update your anti-bias and anti-harassment training.

Are you liable for harassment by independent contractors?

12/07/2012

You have enough to worry about with employees sexually harassing each other. But here’s another risk: As a new court ruling shows, employers can also be held liable for the behavior of third-party independent contractors in the workplace—even though they are not employees.

A slur is a slur, no matter the language, and it deserves discipline

12/06/2012

You don’t tolerate slurs spoken in English, do you? Then don’t put up with vile, intolerant and demeaning speech in other languages. It’s the content that matters, not the language spoken.

EEOC issues guidance for helping victims of domestic violence

12/05/2012

New EEOC guidance shows how Title VII and the ADA may affect employer efforts to assist employees victimized by domestic violence. It shows how employers might be inadvertently compounding victims’ pain—and how that might create legal liability.

This would so require Don Draper to fix a drink

12/05/2012

The fear of being sued became a self-fulfilling prophecy for Collin De Rham, a screenwriter for the hit cable series “Mad Men,” and his wife after they fired the nanny who cared for their young child.

A slam-dunk lawsuit? NBA charged with gender bias

12/05/2012

The National Basketball Association faces a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by a woman who was once a senior account executive for the league.

Former CEO claims Brooklyn credit union retaliated

12/05/2012

The former head of the Brooklyn-based Polish and Slavic Federal Credit Union is suing the financial institution, claiming he was fired because he refused to follow its policy: hiring only workers of Polish descent.

EEOC can order employer to keep former harasser away

12/05/2012

Most employers think that once they fire a harasser, the matter should be pretty much over. But the EEOC has now won the right to order an employer never to rehire a harasser and to ban him from the premises indefinitely.

Employee refuses to cooperate with internal investigation? That’s a firing offense

12/05/2012

Just as employers have a responsibility to investigate allegations of wrongdoing, employees have an obligation to cooperate with internal investigations. Refusing to do so can be grounds for termination.

Boss embroils steakhouse in same-sex harassment case

12/05/2012

Sparks Steakhouse in Midtown Manhattan will pay $600,000 to settle a same-sex harassment lawsuit that alleged the upscale eatery did nothing to stop a male manager from groping waiters.