Tag: Harassment

Broader workplace harassment claims: Is Canada becoming more litigious?

by Shane Todd Can a Canadian employee sue an employer for harassment that is not related to a discrimination claim? The answer used to be “no.” But that’s changing. In most jurisdictions across Canada, an employee could sue or file a human rights application for harassment related to unlawful discrimination. An employee could file a […]

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment Prevention: The Easiest Thing to Teach and the Hardest Thing to Accomplish

When we reported last year about the ouster of recently deceased Fox News chairman Roger Ailes, we noted that Ailes’ repeated pattern of “couch casting” didn’t occur in a vacuum; rather, it sent a message throughout the organization that sexually harassing behavior was condoned at the highest level. We noted that it would take more to […]

harassment

DFEH Issues Important Guidance On Investigating Harassment Complaints

On May 2, 2017, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) released its Workplace Harassment Guide, which advises employers how to develop an effective antiharassment program, respond to and investigate claims of harassment, and take appropriate remedial actions. The guide, found here, follows up on regulations the Fair Employment and Housing Council enacted […]

Sexual Harassment

Lesson Learned from Bill O’Reilly’s Ouster: You Can’t Sweep Harassment Under the Rug

When Fox News paid some of the $13 million needed to settle sexual harassment claims made against O’Reilly Factor host Bill O’Reilly, it seemingly failed to fully address the problem. The company didn’t thoroughly investigate or take appropriate remedial action until there was public pressure to do so, according to news reports. Employment law attorneys […]

Sexual Harassment

Mentor Sued for Sexual Harassment Points to Lack of Training as Excuse

A male scientist allegedly expressed his interest in having a sexual relationship with a female graduate student on numerous occasions while mentoring her on remote research excursions deep in the woods of Alaska. The student later sued him and the university where she was pursuing a doctorate degree, alleging hostile work environment.

Diversity

Religious Discrimination Hazards on the Rise

Religious discrimination hasn’t been a major concern for employers in recent years. There’s little case law on the subject and religious-based complaints rank low in the government’s charge statistics. But recent trends call for a renewed look at the issues surrounding religion in the workplace, one expert says.

A Culture of Harassment? What Went Wrong at Uber, Tesla

Several large employers, including Uber and Tesla, made headlines recently when female employees went public with allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace. They all described a culture where the harassment was systemic and ignored at every level—including Human Resources.