Remember when you were a kid and you asked a grown-up for something? Remember when that grown-up, trying to teach you manners, asked you, “What’s the magic word?”– and you hopefully said, “Please”? How does that work in the workplace though? I mean, yes, it’s certainly the right thing for employees making requests to say […]
Sleep Disorders and Reasonable Accommodations in the Workplace
On October 31, I posted here about an employee who was terminated from his job after he requested reasonable accommodations under the ADA for his narcolepsy, and the employee, Brian Mahn filed suit. While I often get comments or questions regarding a post, until now I have never heard from anyone who was the subject […]
An Employer Is Responsible for Employees’ Housing and Transportation? Whaaaat?
Are you responsible for your employees’ living conditions? Do you have to ensure that your employees have habitable sanitary housing? I know what some of you are thinking: There she goes again, that crazy brunette employer’s attorney with her off-the-wall questions. (C’mon, admit it you think I may really have flown off the deep end […]
Uh oh. Your Employee Says S/he Was Harassed — and S/he has Recordings…
This week I want to tell you about a case that just might have something for everyone. The Federal Housing Finance Agency is facing the following allegations: a) sexual harassment by the Director; b) Equal Pay violations; c) retaliation; and d) recordings that reportedly support these allegations. Yowsa! I know in my head that these […]
“Sexual Horseplay” or Same-Sex Harassment?
Sometimes employees get physical. Sometimes it’s just “juvenile behavior” or “horseplay”, involving all employees and is arguably not based on one’s sex. Even physical contact with a sexual overtone might trigger tort liability but might not be sexual harassment. If it’s your employees involved in this type of behavior though, I doubt you really want […]