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Retaliation

Former Freeport fire chief sounds the retaliation alarm

02/12/2010

Freeport’s former fire chief has sued the city and the city manager, claiming he was wrongfully terminated for reporting an alleged violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act.

Bosses: When handling serial complainers, zip it

02/01/2010

For a few employees, every workplace problem has its roots in some kind of discrimination. They’re the ones who continually file bias complaints, and they’re a continual source of frustration for supervisors who must constantly fend off unfounded accusations. Warn those bosses that overreacting will only lead to more trouble.

Whistle-blower retaliation just got more expensive in N.Y.

02/01/2010

A new state law significantly increases the penalties against employers that retaliate against whistle-blowers—by 1000%. Passed by the New York State Assembly last summer and enacted at the end of 2009, the new law sets the minimum fine for whistle-blower retaliation at $2,000.

Retaliation nation: Manage adverse actions to lessen retaliation

02/01/2010

Virtually every federal employment law has an anti-retaliation provision—they would be toothless tigers without them. Employees who can’t prove outright discrimination often try the retaliation route. The EEOC handled a record-high 33,613 retaliation complaints in 2009. As a result, employers must tread carefully when dealing with an employee who has exercised his or her rights under any federal law.

Understand how whistle-blower laws affect employers, employees

01/27/2010

Whistle-blower statutes are designed to protect employees who report their employers for violating civil regulations or criminal laws. But that can seem like a risky proposition for employees, who may fear that reporting their employer to the authorities could cost them their jobs. That’s why whistle-blower laws exist …

Fair treatment wins when whistle-blower sues

01/25/2010

Sometimes employees believe that reporting potential wrongdoing by their employers or fellow employees means they can’t be punished. In effect, the assumption is that being a whistle-blower gives them a pass and protects them from adverse employment actions, such as termination. That’s simply not true.

Camden settles race bias case for $1.15 million

01/25/2010

Two black deputy fire chiefs have accepted a $1.15 million settlement to end their race discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the city of Camden and two Camden fire chiefs.

Lawnside settles police dept. bias case for $350,000

01/25/2010

The Borough of Lawnside has agreed to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed by a female police officer who alleged she began experiencing harassment and discrimination almost from Day 1.

Reprimand, mandate training to cut bias liability

01/19/2010

All employees, regardless of which protected class they belong to, have the right to work in an environment free from hostility. That doesn’t mean, however, that you have to fire every co-worker who does something that might be interpreted as hostile. Sometimes the appropriate response is to reprimand the co-worker and educate her so she’ll change her ways.

Stare masters: How much ogling equals harassment?

01/15/2010

What’s the difference between a friendly glance and a sexual stare? A recent court ruling shows that sexual harassment is in the eye of the beholder—and supervisors better not roll their eyes if they witness it …