Practical HR Tips, News & Advice. Updated Daily.
A worker calls a coworker an “F”ing moron. Is it harassment? asks attorney Jonathan Segal. It’s probably not harassment as long as the name-caller is an equal opportunity name-caller, but is it appropriate? Most employers want to be an employer of choice, says Segal, and this is not the way to go about it. Segal, […]
The “N word” was in common use at Utah construction company Holmes & Holmes, and management—and unfortunately HR—not only permitted it, but participated. The judge called at least four strikes. The judge in the case wrote that the conduct was “constitutionally offensive in any setting” and concluded that this “is a rare case where there […]
Yesterday’s Advisor offered our take on the recent $2.3 Million Fry/EEOC settlement, and showcased the first 5 of our 11 sexual harassment training statements. Today, 6 through 11, plus an introduction to the new, comprehensive training solution—TrainingToday. [Go here for 1 to 5] 6. A superior blocks a promotion for a subordinate who has firmly […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]