Yesterday’s CED offered our take on the recent $2.3 million settlement between San Jose-based Fry’s Electronics and the EEOC. Today, #s 6-11 on our list of recommended sexual harassment training statements. [ Click here for 1 to 5] 6. A superior blocks a promotion for a subordinate who has...

A recent EEOC lawsuit—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’s Electronics worker America Rios complained to her...

New California regulations and pregnancy laws broaden the types of conditions of pregnancy for which workplace accommodations will be required – even if they don’t involve a pregnancy-related disability. With these new regulations on the table, it’s crucial for you to amend your internal...

California employers are well-versed in the laws about pregnancy disability leave, but what other pregnancy laws affect employer obligations? What reasonable accommodations must be provided for pregnant employees? More pregnant employees may be entitled to reasonable accommodations because there are...

Yesterday , we looked at the issue of whether a partner has the right to file a claim for retaliation for reporting sexual harassment of employees under the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Today, the court’s final ruling in the case. The case analysis is courtesy of Cathleen...

A California trial court recently held that a partner doesn't have the right to file a claim for retaliation for reporting sexual harassment of employees under the state's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). That decision was appealed. But a California appeals court reinstated the case; read...

Generally, no, no, and no. These and other tricky ADA questions are answered in EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Disability-Related Inquiries and Medical Examinations. First of all, remember that there is a difference between applicants and employees, and the rules concerning disability-related inquiries...

Workplace harassment is one of many areas where California employers have additional legal obligations than employers who operate exclusively in other states. California has more protected classes, more employers are covered, and there is a greater level of liability for peer harassment, for example...

Yesterday , attorney Jonathan Segal illuminated the risks in office romances; today, three women and a man discuss sex in the office. Harassment is a diversity issue, says Segal, who is a partner at the law firm Duane Morris LLP. Our reactions differ because our experiences differ based on whether we...

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 is a partner at the law firm Duane Morris LLP. His remarks came at a recent SHRM conference...

Although Herman Cain will not be the next U.S. president, he has the dubious honor of bringing sexual and workplace harassment back into the national spotlight. He may well have done you a favor. Although the number of sexual harassment charges filed with the EEOC has fallen slightly, there were still...

At its heart, the Penn State University (PSU) football scandal is a criminal matter. But it’s also the ultimate example of sexual harassment being permitted to occur openly, continuously, and notoriously in a workplace, says San Francisco attorney Mark Schickman. Schickman is a partner at Freeland...

If the EEOC suggests that you enter into mediation with a complaining employee, you should say “yes,” says San Francisco attorney Mark Schickman. He and his clients have had good experiences with the process, he adds. Schickman is a partner at Freeland Cooper & Foreman LLP in San Francisco...

Yesterday , we looked at the first 5 of Lyne Richardson and Jolina Abrena’s tips for minimizing potential liability for discrimination and harassment at your workplace. Today, the rest of the top 10, plus an introduction to a streamlined, yet comprehensive, A.B. 1825 training resource. Richardson...

All California employers should be familiar with the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which prohibits employment discrimination and harassment. The FEHA offers employees greater protection and relief than its federal counterpart, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. One critical...

Yesterday , we looked at textbook cases of what not to do when you receive a complaint about sexual harassment occurring on a business trip. Today, 5 tips for proper response, along with info about a valuable sexual harassment training resource. Time Is of the Essence Once a harassment complaint is made...

The more employees travel for business, the more exposure employers have - often with costly consequences. Businesses must be prepared for problems that might arise when male and female employees travel together, whether domestically or internationally. Contrary to popular belief, what happens in Vegas...

Lawsuits are down, but judgments are up. Training is the answer. This fall marks 20 years since the term "sexual harassment" entered the American lexicon in a big way. Americans came to know it through the testimony of Anita Hill, as she complained about alleged unwelcome advances from her...

A recent study shows the effect that sexual harassment has on workplace teams. In a word — conflict. If you need another reason to quell sexual harassment in your workplace — beyond a potentially monster lawsuit - Jana L. Raver and Michele J. Gelfand have it for you. Rever and Gelfand, both...

California law makes an employer liable for sexual harassment by a supervisor regardless of whether the employer authorized, prohibited, or even knew of the harassment. You might be able to reduce or eliminate the damages owed to an employee by taking reasonable steps to prevent and correct sexual harassment...