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Florida

Prison nurses receive $630,000 for hostile work environment

06/09/2008
A federal jury found the Florida Department of Corrections guilty of condoning sexual harassment by male inmates in its Martin Correctional Institution …

Tell supervisors: No threats following unfair labor charges

05/19/2008
It’s understandable that managers and supervisors might get angry if an employee filed unfair labor practice charges against them. But how they respond may mean the difference between a reasonable resolution of the underlying complaint and additional charges—for retaliation and intimidation …

Don’t let retaliation undo settled discrimination charge

05/19/2008

Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court declared that the threshold for retaliation is much lower than for discrimination itself, employees who have filed discrimination complaints are finding that by charging retaliation, they get a second chance to drag their employers into court. That’s why it is absolutely crucial for HR to train supervisors and managers on retaliation …

Duty differences, experience enough to defeat equal pay claim

05/12/2008
The Equal Pay Act was passed to ensure that women are paid the same as men for substantially equal work. The law does allow for differences based on any factor “other than sex,” but you must be prepared to explain pay differentials in a way that clearly demonstrates why two employees in the same job receive different wages …

Act fast to accommodate deteriorating medical condition

05/12/2008
Under the ADA, employers must engage disabled employees in interactive discussions about how to reasonably accommodate their disabilities. But sometimes, an employee’s condition may take a rapid turn for the worse. How fast you act may mean the difference in winning or losing a later ADA reasonable accommodations case …

Put a lid on workplace trash talk that demeans women

05/12/2008
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has just expanded employee rights in alleged sexual harassment cases. The court has ruled that sexually explicit language that tends to demean women can be the basis of a sexual harassment and hostile work environment claim even if the language is not aimed at a particular woman …

Investigating sexual harassment? Ask victim whether she’s told HR everything

05/12/2008
Sexual harassment investigations can be embarrassing for everyone, including the alleged victim. But in order to conduct a fair and impartial investigation, HR must know exactly what happened. You don’t want to get part of the story, only to find out later that there was more …

Track all discipline so you can show harsh punishment wasn’t retaliation

05/12/2008
The easiest way for an employee to win a discrimination lawsuit is to complain about discrimination and then sit back and wait for a supervisor or manager to retaliate. That’s why it’s so important for HR to keep track of discrimination complaints and disciplinary actions …

Jury awards $5.8 million verdict for age discrimination

05/12/2008
A former employee of Ernie Haire Ford who claimed the dealership fired him because of his age won a $5.8 million verdict in Hillsborough Circuit Court …

Background checks don’t protect anyone if they’re ignored

05/12/2008
With four—that’s right, four—teachers charged with sexual misconduct in the Hillsborough School District this school year, residents and board members are questioning the district’s screening and hiring procedures …