Over the weekend, I read this opinion in a race-discrimination with facts so egregious, they’d make David Duke blush. Let me set the scene for you. This is a workplace where, allegedly, several of the white employees displayed Confederate flag paraphernalia. I’ll spare you a verbatim review of the…
Articles Posted in Race
Three employees fired for posing at work in KKK garb and makeshift crosses claim discrimination. Yep.
The thing about this law-blogging gig, other than the money, power and women, of course, is the pride of being first to post about a crazy new case. Last week, I missed out on the nude sunbather who sued an elementary school-employer for retaliation. Well, Jon Hyman at the Ohio…
You’ve heard of the “one-free-grope” rule. How about the “two-free-slurs” rule?
It was Gloria Steinem who, in discussing President Bill Clinton’s indiscretions with Paula Jones and Kathleen Willey, fashioned the “one free grope” rule. That is, while not condoning President Clinton’s actions, Steinem concluded that one touching is not sexual harassment — at least as a matter law. Well, yesterday, the…
The National Football League’s proposed “N”-word penalty: too far, or not far enough?
In a few weeks, the National Football League owners are going to consider a proposed rule governing the use of the “N”-word during a football game. If the rule goes into effect, any team with a player who uses the “N”-word during a game, will be assessed a 15-yard penalty.…
Bad things happen when management laments to HR that black people are ugly
Just a reminder that some managers still engage in really stupid behavior. I was reading this case about an HR Manager of a dentistry practice. Following an interview between a dentist in her practice and an African-American woman, the dentist allegedly commented to the HR Manager that the person would…
The guy fired for grab-ass at work may have been discriminated against
“My ears are burning…” No, not you, Bill Clinton. And not you either, Homer Simpson. I’m talking about this dude who worked as an EMT up in Pittsburgh. He was accused of grabbing his co-worker by the buttocks and placing his fingers very close to her private area. (I’d be…
Social media? Anti-harassment? No workplace policy can prevent something this stupid…
On MLK Day, with a few of my co-workers and my four-year-old son, I performed community service. We went to a local center and spent a few hours making peanut butter sandwiches to feed the homeless. Actually, we spent a half-hour or so making sandwiches. Most of us spent the…
And we have an early contender for worst employment-law decision of 2014
That may be sugar coating it a bit. A county employee, who applied for a lateral transfer, and ultimately received that transfer, was able to convince two judges on a federal appellate court that the transfer was discriminatory. That’s right. An employee may have a discrimination claim for receiving the…
Maybe Facebook can’t tell you if a candidate is worth hiring, after all
According to a recent study soon to appear in the Journal of Management, not only is Facebook a horrible predictor of how younger recruits will perform for your business — there is absolutely zero correlation between Facebook activity and job performance — but those who rely upon Facebook to help…
Judge slashes jury award for black plaintiff called the “N”-word — by her black boss
Back in September, 2013, I blogged here about a NY jury finding that a black plaintiff called the n-word — by her black boss — had been subjected to race discrimination. Actually, her boss called her the n-word eight times! “Well, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, that’s 103 fewer…