Tag: diversity

EEOC

EEOC Training Programs Help Employers Fight Sexual Harassment

The recent high-profile sexual harassment accusations leading to public humiliation and terminations has highlighted the need for companies to properly train their supervisors and employees on what is and is not harassment. Just as these allegations are appearing on the front pages of newspapers, on October 4, 2017, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) launched […]

discrimination

Women in STEM Face Discrimination, Harassment

A new report from Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan fact tank, finds that women working in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) are much more likely than men to experience gender discrimination and sexual harassment at work.

When Is a Discrimination Complaint against a Manager an Act of Harassment?

What if a manager accused of unlawful discrimination based on employees’ religion asserts that the complaint itself is an act of harassment? You owe duties all around, and you may not be able to perform one duty without risking a violation of the other. See how one employer successfully avoided that minefield.

Sleep deprivation: Know whether it’s a performance problem or a disability

Employers striving for a diverse workforce take care not to discriminate against employees with a disability, but hidden disabilities can be tricky. Supervisors might think they’re dealing with performance problems when they really should be considering whether an employee has a disability protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

Is There Harm In Asking? Questioning Employees About Their Plans to Retire

Retirement decisions cannot be divorced from a person’s age. When asking questions about retirement, employers should be cognizant of age discrimination laws and the implications of making such inquiries.  Applicable laws Age discrimination is governed by both federal law and the laws in most states. The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) applies to […]

Can They Do That? Firing Employees for Off-Duty Conduct

by T. Harold Pinkley Participating in last year’s Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia—an event that involved several groups usually identified as the “alt-right,” along with groups protesting the marchers—has proven to have unforeseen and unintended consequences, including job loss, for some of the people involved. This article examines how you can or should […]

transgender

DOJ Reverses Course on Title VII Protections for Transgender Persons

  On October 4, 2017, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memorandum announcing the U.S. Justice Department’s (DOJ) new stance that transgender employees aren’t protected from discrimination under federal law. The announcement reflects a reversal from the Obama administration’s interpretation of the law and runs counter to federal court decisions and other federal agencies’ […]

Discrimination Against Breastfeeding Employee Leads to Jury Verdict

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), federal law required employers with more than 50 employees to provide breastfeeding employees a private location, other than a toilet stall, where they can express breast milk in privacy. And, of course, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) has prohibited discrimination “on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, […]

mind-set

Hiring in 2018: Why Neurodiversity Matters

Earlier this year, more than 250 CEOs from America’s leading businesses signed a pledge to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In today’s political and social climate, it is encouraging to see a top-down commitment to fostering corporate cultures that encourage dialogue, collaboration, mutual learning, and sharing of best practices.

HR’s work not over when harassment investigation ends

As more and more people are coming forward with claims of sexual harassment in the workplace, employers have rightly focused on making internal investigations thorough and effective. But the work doesn’t end when the investigation is wrapped up. In fact, it may be just beginning, according to an attorney and a human resources expert who […]