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Discrimination / Harassment

Audit past leave credits when crafting early retirement plan

06/01/2007

If your organization is considering early retirement as an incentive to move out highly compensated employees, do your homework first. To properly calculate seniority, you’ll need to check how unpaid leave was handled years ago …

‘Secret’ consensual love affair with supervisor doesn’t mean automatic employer liability

06/01/2007

While it’s never a good idea for someone with supervisory authority to engage in a sexual relationship with a subordinate, such an affair doesn’t always trigger employer liability …

Inkster Officials Object to Race Verdict by All-White Jury

06/01/2007

Inkster city officials are crying foul after an all-white jury convicted them of discriminating against a police lieutenant because he was a “white Hispanic” …

Court Extends Whistle-Blower Protection in Law School Case

06/01/2007

The director of public relations for Ave Maria College in Ypsilanti may proceed with her whistle-blower lawsuit after an appellate court ruled that the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) counts as a public body …

Michigan high court sides with doctor in Civil Rights Act case

06/01/2007

The Michigan Supreme Court overturned a summary judgment against a black doctor who claimed that Oakwood Hospital-Seaway Center discriminated against him when he exercised staff privileges there …

Jury delivers $2.1 million verdict to UPS

06/01/2007

UPS survived a race discrimination lawsuit only to be hit with a $2.1 million verdict for retaliation against a Detroit-area national account manager …

Equal-Pay Bills Defined by ‘Work of Comparable Value’

06/01/2007

Michigan Democrats are pushing several bills aimed at closing the earnings gap between women and men. House Bills 4625-4627 and Senate Bill 417 would broaden anti-discrimination laws to require equal pay for “work of comparable value”…

Michigan supervisors can be personally liable for discrimination

06/01/2007

Can a supervisor be sued personally for alleged acts of discrimination in Michigan? Based on a January decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals, the answer is yes …

Indefinite suspension is retaliation, even without discharge

06/01/2007

When a company faces sexual harassment or other discrimination complaints, the investigation has to start as soon as possible. Sometimes that means suspending participants while you sort things out. A prompt conclusion to a thorough investigation is the key to avoiding retaliation charges when you tell everyone to take a “time out” …

Good evaluation, raise don’t invalidate retaliation claim

06/01/2007

Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court made it easier to charge retaliation for complaining about alleged discrimination, the courts have been flooded with new cases probing the limits of the ruling. The new test is whether an employer’s action would “dissuade a reasonable worker from making or supporting a charge of discrimination”…