Race Category Archives — Page 14 of 23 — The Employer Handbook Blog Published by Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Employment Lawyer

Why would a judge have awarded UC benefits to a white guy fired for making racial slurs?

June 15, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Pixabay.com (https://pixabay.com/en/eyes-surprise-wow-expression-open-312093/)

Yesterday morning, I read my friend Jon Hyman’s post on LinkedIn about a lawsuit in which a person of color alleged that various supervisors and managers:

Frequently called him the “n-word”;
Told him to “reach his black hands out” while handing him a box; and
Offered him a banana while saying, “Monkeys like bananas.”

Allegedly, a group of white employees also hung a sign in the workplace that said, “WHITE ONLY.” Continue reading

Judge greenlights discrimination claim of white employee critical of Black Lives Matter movement

May 9, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

By The All-Nite Images from NY, NY, USA (Black Lives Matter Black Friday) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

A white man who cast himself as a rising star at a midwest bank claimed that his trajectory plummetted after he posted a message on Facebook criticizing the Black Lives Matter movement. Continue reading

Starbucks details how, in one afternoon, it will train about 175K employees on racial bias

April 19, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Screenshot taken from https://news.starbucks.com/press-releases/starbucks-to-close-stores-nationwide-for-racial-bias-education-may-29

In a video posted on the company’s website, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson followed up his initial apology for last week’s incident in Philadelphia with additional details on how the company would try to avoid a similar event in the future. Continue reading

Bookmark This: Starbucks and a lesson on leadership and accountability

April 17, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Screenshot taken from https://news.starbucks.com/views/a-follow-up-message-from-starbucks-ceo-in-philadelphia

Starbucks was riding a pretty good HR streak in 2018. Among other things, the coffee giant had attained 100% gender and racial equality and announced investments in paid leave. Yep, things were lookin’ really good for Starbucks.

Then, last week, things got really bad. Continue reading

This is probably not even legal in Mexico

March 22, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Pattie on Flickr (“In an antique shop window” https://www.flickr.com/photos/piratealice/3082374723)//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Even if you operate an antique shop, this sign is not a good look for your business.

So, as you can imagine, the State of Illinois wasn’t too cool with one of its local employment agencies taking out an advertisement in a local publication in which it sought “Lots of Mexicans” “Honest and sincere (provide the best Mexicans).” Continue reading

Calling someone “racist” for posting “All Lives Matter” on Facebook isn’t race discrimination.

February 22, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

https://www.theemployerhandbook.com/files/2018/02/maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com-Finger-Indicate-Poking-Designate-To-Point-Show-427537.jpg

Finger Indicate Poking Designate To Point Show (Image Credit: http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Finger-Indicate-Poking-Designate-To-Point-Show-427537)

This post doesn’t deliver as much earth-shattering HR compliance as it does clickbait. But, since you’re here, hang out for a bit why don’t you?

(Ok, I’ve got a few tips for you at the end.) Continue reading

An employee’s bad tweets lead New York Times to fire her on the same day it announced her hiring.

February 16, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

By No machine-readable author provided. Moberg assumed (based on copyright claims). [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

At least she didn’t have too many personal belongings to pack up.

(Too soon?) Continue reading

Sorry. I’ll make it up to you today.

February 12, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

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When this happened, you knew that I had to do some celebrating. Twice.

So, the fam and braved the long lines (during which my young children got quite a vocabulary lesson) and headed into Philadelphia on Thursday for the Philadelphia Eagles parade. Just us and a few million strangers.

But, football season is over. I’ve caught my breath. I’m back in employment lawyer blogger mode with a 3-in-1 post today. Continue reading

Plaintiff’s discrimination claim foiled by Instagram filters

January 30, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: By Ragesoss (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

HR compliance has evolved from FMLA facebook posts to 16 shades of Instagram hair. Continue reading

What does it take to be individually liable for discrimination? A lot.

January 16, 2018 | by Eric B. Meyer

Image Credit: Photofunia.com

Most discrimination lawsuits involve a single, individual plaintiff and, on the other side of the “v,” a company as the sole defendant. But, sometimes, that plaintiff will name additional individual defendants too, such as a manager, supervisor, or even someone from Human Resources.

When that happens, what are the chances that the individual will end up legally responsible with the plaintiff prevails at trial?