Discrimination


Home \| Contact Us \| Free E-Zine \| Tell a Friend \| Search \| SUBSCRIBER LOGIN

home | Discrimination

Discrimination

Subtopics:

Overview
Protected Groups
Sex Discrimination

Complete Topic List

Short Takes: Investigations
June 2008
What do we do when we've completed an internal investigation and the alleged wrongdoer just denies the allegation, leaving us with a "he said, she said" problem? . . . more

Hiring: Can We Refuse to Hire Smokers?
May 2008
My boss wants to have a truly smoke-free workplace, and he doesn't want to hire people who smoke. Can we do that? . . . more

You're the Expert: How Can I Avoid Family Responsibility Discrimination Claims?
May 2008
I'm hearing more and more about "family responsibility discrimination," and I'm worried that employees will start suing under this theory. How should I treat workers who are parents and caregivers so I can avoid accusations of discrimination? . . . more

Age Discrimination: We Have a Five-Year Training Program; Can We Hire Only Younger People?
April 2008
We have a training program that involves five years of rotating assignments before employees are ready to really start the job. And it is a few years after that before they start to actually contribute significant profits. Because we have to invest so much in their training, can we have an age cutoff, such as not hiring people over age 50? If not, what can we do to ensure that new hires will work long enough to pay off our investment in them? . . . more

Domestic Partners: Do We Have to Give 'Kin Care' Leave to Domestic Partners?
April 2008
An increasing number of our employees are registering with domestic partners. Can an employee take kin care leave to spend time with his or her domestic partner? . . . more

You're the Expert: What Should We Do with Supervisors Who Are in Relationships with Subordinates?
March 2008
We have two supervisors who appear to be in relatiosnships with subordinates. How do we approach them, and what should we say? . . . more

Harassment: What Is the Best Response When I Get a 'Hint' That Inappropriate Behavior Is Occurring in the Workplace?
March 2008
I've gotten hints and heard rumors through the grapevine about inappropriate activity going on in my company. In one case, a manager is allegedly "hitting on" a subordinate, and in another case, apparently employees are making fun of a co-worker on their project team because she is African-American. I don't have any evidence or corroboration, and no one has complained. Do I wait and observe, or should I act? How should I proceed? . . . more

Bulletin: Employer resources from the ODEP
February 2008
In this month's issue of CELA, one of our employment experts tackles a question about accommodating employees with disabilities. T . . . more

You're the Expert
February 2008
I got a little embarrassed when I learned that inappropriate behavior (such as employees making fun of their disabled co-worker) had been going on in my facility--and I didn't know about it. My goal for the new year is to "keep an ear to the ground." What suggestions do you have? . . . more

Bulletin: EEOC releases fact sheet on selection and testing procedures
January 2008
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has issued a new fact sheet explaining how . . . more

You're the Expert: How Can I Stop the Tradition of Teasing and Pranks in Our Workplace?
December 2007
A recent question: Our workplace has a tradition of teasing and pranks. "All in good fun," say the workers, but I think there are harassment suits building up in some employees' minds as this continues. How can I get the message across to stop this behavior? Here's what you had to say . . . more

Sexual Harassment: Can Third Parties Sue for Harassment?
November 2007
We've got two situations in which third parties are complaining about sexual harassment. In one case, an office couple is "carrying on" in front of another employee who is complaining about a "hostile environment." In the other case . . . more

Disabilities: How Do We Determine Whether an Employee Is a Safety Threat?
November 2007
We have a large workforce, and many people operate machinery, fork trucks, etc. Plus, many handle hazardous substances. We now think that some employees have medical conditions that may cause them to lose concentration, and we have some other employees who may be . . . more

Discrimination: May We Require English-Only on the Job Because Co-Workers Are Uncomfortable?
November 2007
What are an employer's restrictions on requiring employees to speak only English while on the clock? We do business in English, and some employees are insulted when there are private conversations in other languages going on around them. It's also a problem during breaks and lunch . . . more

You're the Expert: A Recent Question
November 2007
That radio character, Don Imus, who got fired for his inappropriate comments? I think I've got a few Imuses in my company. How do I get the "good ol' boys" to toe the line and stop with their insensitive jokes and actions . . . more

Diversity: We'd Like to Improve the Diversity of Our Workforce—Can You Help?
November 2007
We aren't subject to an affirmative action plan, but I'm concerned that our workforce isn't very diverse and that we may be losing good employees as a result. What are our legal obligations with diversity, and how can we address diversity at our company . . . more

Additional Items