Tag: Harassment

How NOT to Deal with Sexual Harassment Complaints

A recent EEOC lawsuit—just settled for $2.3 million—gives a picture perfect example of how NOT to handle sexual harassment complaints. The harassment was compounded by retaliation and ratcheted up with evidence tampering. In the suit, Fry Electronics worker America Rios complained to her boss, Ka Lam,  that her manager was sexting her and inviting her […]

EEOC plan reveals enforcement priorities

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has released a draft of its Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP) that spells out priorities such as stepped-up efforts against hiring discrimination and harassment, new protections for various vulnerable workers, preserving access to the legal system, and dealing with emerging issues like changes brought by the ADA Amendments Act. Recruitment […]

FMLA Certifications: When Can You Call the Doctor?

FMLA certification can be tricky to administer. On one hand, it’s a fairly straightforward way to ensure that the employee is truly eligible to take FMLA leave. On the other hand, what are you to do when the employee repeatedly forgets to give you the certification form from his doctor, or fails to return it […]

What’s Penn State Mean for HR? More Harassment Cases

Special from the Advanced Employment Issues Symposium, Las Vegas The unfortunate revelations of alleged sexual misconduct at Penn State and other schools will have one clear effect for HR, says attorney Mark Schickman: You’re going to see an uptick in harassment charges. Sexual harassment charges had been declining somewhat, but the recent publicity will reverse […]

Harassment Is a Diversity Issue (Men and Women Are Different)

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Jonathan Segal illuminated the risks in office romances; today, three women and a man discuss sex in the office, plus we learn about a unique 10-minutes-at-a-time training system. Harassment is a diversity issue, says Segal, who is a partner in the Philadelphia office of law firm Duane Morris LLP, because our […]

Office Romance Hypotheticals … and The Real World

Office romances are one of the biggest legal risks managers can take, says attorney Jonathan Segal. Even when relationships appear to be totally consensual, they’re dangerous from a legal standpoint. Segal, who is one of SHRM’s most popular speakers, is a partner in the Philadelphia office of law firm Duane Morris LLP. His remarks came […]

I Stopped My Harasser in His Tracks

In yesterday’s Advisor, Holly Kearl, author of Stop Street Harassment: Making Public Places Safe and Welcoming for Women, offered 5 ways to stop harassers and 10 examples of what to say to them. Today, two ‘success” stories from harassment victims, plus an introduction to the all-in-one HR website, HR.BLR.com. Kearl, a program manager for the […]

How to Respond to a Harasser? 10 Things to Say

“How should I respond to a harasser?” is a question I’m often asked when I give talks about sexual harassment that occurs in public spaces,” says Holly Kearl. In today’s Advisor, she shares specifics of what to say to harassers. Kearl, a program manager for the AAUW, is a national street harassment expert based in […]

An HR Bonus for Each Dropped EEOC Charge?

In yesterday’s CED, Hunter Lott of Please Sue Me fame offered his lawsuit avoidance tips. Today, his advice on legal exposure in 2011, plus an introduction to an upcoming event you won’t want to miss.   What percent of charges did the EEOC drop last year? Lott asks. More than 64 percent. “That’s us!” Lott […]

Sex Harassment: 5 Things Supervisors Need to Do to Prevent It

In yesterday’s Advisor, attorney Jonathan A. Segal presented 25 harassing behaviors to avoid; today, his instructions for supervisors and managers, plus an introduction to an easy-to-use and hard-to-fool checklist-based HR audit system. Segal, who is one of SHRM’s most popular speakers, is a partner in the Philadelphia office of law firm Duane Morris LLP. His […]