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Discrimination / Harassment

Ban smoking or ban smokers? How far can you legally go?

05/15/2007

Thirty states and the District of Columbia have established “lifestyle discrimination” laws that prohibit employers from discriminating against employees or applicants based on the person’s off-duty use of tobacco or participation in other legal though controversial activities …

It’s important to track discipline by type and degree

05/01/2007

Expect a call from an employment lawyer when a disgruntled employee is fired. If the axed employee belongs to a protected class (race, sex, disability, etc.), expect more than a call …

No need for extra severance when laying off litigious staff

05/01/2007

Employers that want to trim their work force often sweeten the exit with severance payments. In exchange, employees sign away rights to lawsuits they may otherwise have contemplated. But what about employees who already have pending employment discrimination lawsuits or EEOC or state agency complaints? …

Use job-Related standards to kill discrimination suspicion

05/01/2007

Do you have clear and objective criteria for internal promotions? Prepared to justify those criteria as business-related? If so, you have little to fear from employees who were passed over for a promotion even if that means your management isn’t a perfect reflection of the racial makeup of the local work force …

Strong harassment policy plus training essential

05/01/2007

It’s been a few years since the U.S. Supreme Court laid down the law on sexual harassment…. Time breeds complacency, and too many organizations have let down their guard. The world’s best policy won’t do you any good collecting dust on a shelf …

Whistle-blower complaint muddies Environmental Protection waters

05/01/2007

A senior chemist with nearly 20 years of experience in the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has filed a whistle-blower complaint …

Walgreens employees file race discrimination lawsuit

05/01/2007

More than 20 current and former employees from Florida and Missouri have filed an EEOC race discrimination suit against Illinois-based Walgreens. They claim the company makes store assignments based on race …

While he’s done a great job as city manager, she’s got to go

05/01/2007

Largo is struggling to live up to its “City of Progress” moniker after the city commission voted in February to fire City Manager Steve Stanton for planning a sex-change operation …

After years of harassment, prison nurses get almost $1 million

05/01/2007

Twelve nurses working in the Washington Correctional Institute sued the Florida Department of Corrections for allowing male prisoners to harass them despite years of complaints to superiors …

Religious accommodations in Florida workplaces: 5 steps to take

05/01/2007

Florida mirrors America’s growing diversity in many ways. Today, co-workers wear burqas and yarmulkes, and some employees request prayer breaks. Religious diversity is a reason for celebration, but it also presents workplace challenges. Religious discrimination claims filed with the EEOC more than doubled in the past year …