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 […]
Seeking “Young and Fresh” Workers. Uh-Oh…
I’m back–in case you noticed an absence in the last 3 weeks. I was firmly ensconced in “Wedding Land” tying up loose ends and then celebrating as I married off my only daughter about a week ago. (Holy cow, I’m now a mother-in-law! I know I digress, but I just couldn’t resist.) I won’t keep […]
Don’t Fire a Whistleblower–Even if S/he’s Wrong!!
Your employee alleges discrimination or harassment, or conduct that s/he believes is otherwise illegal. Most of you know that you shouldn’t fire the employee or take some other adverse action in response. I’ve posted about that here. That’s retaliation, and it’s illegal. In a discrimination case, you could pay big bucks for both the discrimination […]