Tag: Sexual Harassment

‘We fixed the glitch….’

I’m confident in this prediction: If you’ve ever held an office job, you will love Office Space. (If you haven’t seen it, get it now.) Anyone can find something in the movie that resonates. Maybe you connect with the guy who can’t bring himself to do more than 15 minutes of real work a week. […]

A face for radio? Employment law lessons from the Jian Ghomeshi scandal

By Kyla Stott-Jess Over the last month, the Canadian news media has devoted significant time to covering the Jian Ghomeshi scandal. Aside from the celebrity gossip factor, the story has had such staying power because it touches on so many controversial issues—BDSM (Bondage & Discipline / Domination & Submission / Sadism & Masochism), sexual consent, […]

Please Sue Me—2014 edition

Lott showcases several “Please Sue Me” actions, and then talks about how to avoid these expensive situations. ‘Distressed Babies’ Comment Draws Apology from AOL Chief AOL’s CEO defended a policy change (awarding 401(k) matches annually instead of monthly) that he said was needed to counterbalance healthcare expenses such as those caused by two pregnancies where […]

Human rights claim disallowed; victim was part of the harassment

By Nicola Sutton In December 2013 we reported on the allegations faced by the Miami Dolphins that one of its players had been bullied and harassed by his teammates, an issue faced by many employers. Sometimes these issues are complicated when a complaining employee has been or is an active participant in the complained-of behavior. […]

Employers need to be ready for new California law on same-sex harassment

by Tara K. Clancy and Kristine W. Hanson A new California law means employees who file same-sex harassment cases should have an easier time getting relief from the courts. Senate Bill (SB) 292, which was signed into law in August and takes effect in January, means employees don’t have to have evidence that sexual desire […]

Teach Your Trainers How to Engage Uninterested Managers

The information in today’s Advisor is adapted from the Ask the Editor service at hr.blr.com. The training question is, “How do you get uninterested managers to participate in a training session?” Here is how our training expert responded: Provide need-to-know information and create a dynamic learning environment, says Dr. Earl Taylor, a former master trainer […]

Guidance on Developing Effective Training Sessions

The training information in this issue is adapted from BLR’s audio presentation, Training the Trainer. Guidance Trainees can work with this exercise to begin to plan an actual training session. The trainer of the “train the trainer” session should stress to trainees that the plans they make are not set in stone; however, the exercise […]

Skeevy TV raises harassment threshold for sitcom writers

Law school will ruin your life in so many ways. I used to watch television in a state of blissful ignorance. Holes in the plot? Didn’t notice. Inconsistent character behavior week to week? Didn’t care. Offensive, sexually charged dialogue? Didn’t mind at all. Then I became a lawyer, and now my clients are employers who […]

Summer jobs and workplace harassment: Train your teen workers to avoid trouble

by Joan Farrell June’s here and school’s out for the summer! For many teenagers, that means finding a summer job; and for most, it’s their first job or their first experience in a workplace. That means employers should be ready to provide training—and not just in the how-to’s of the job, but in appropriate workplace […]

Can Individual Managers Be Held Liable for Wrongful Discharge? The Answer May Surprise You

By Jonathan Mook Virtually all states recognize a common law tort claim of wrongful discharge in violation of a state’s established public policy. In most instances, a lawsuit alleging such a claim is brought solely against the plaintiff’s former employer. But may a suit be brought not only against the employer, but also against the […]