News & Analysis as of

Human Resources Professionals Hostile Environment

Whiteford

Employment Law Update: Ninth Circuit Ruling Reminds Employers They May be Held Liable for Social Media Harassment

Whiteford on

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently ruled, in Okonowsky v. Garland, No. 23-55404, that an employer may be held liable for a Title VII hostile work environment claim based on harassing content posted on an...more

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart,...

Connecticut Supreme Court Adopts Federal Definition of ‘Supervisor’ for State Law Hostile Work Environment Claims

A “supervisor,” for purposes of a Connecticut state hostile work environment claim, is an employee who is empowered by an employer to take tangible employment actions, the Connecticut Supreme Court recently held in O’Reggio...more

Farella Braun + Martel LLP

The Ninth Circuit Reminds Employers of Obligations When Addressing Social Media Posts Affecting Workplace

A recent Ninth Circuit decision clarifies employers’ obligations to address hostile work environment complaints arising out of employees' off-premises social media activity. In Okonowsky v. Garland (No. 23-55404; Jul. 25,...more

Mitratech Holdings, Inc

Speak-Up Culture: Why It Matters and How to Build It

Tips For Assessing The State of Your Workplace Culture in Promoting Openness, Trust, and Inclusion. 6,000 more anonymous hotline reports were filed in 2023 than 2022, according to the respondent of Mitratech’s 2024 State...more

Dentons

New Iowa Court Supreme Court Ruling Covers Hostile Work Environment

Dentons on

The Iowa Supreme Court filed its opinion in Tracy White v. State of Iowa and Iowa Department of Human Services on April 12, 2024. This case related to the issues of hostile work environments as raised under the Iowa Civil...more

Genova Burns LLC

Twist & Shout: Supervisor’s Termination for Shouting Match With Subordinate Upheld Despite Alleged Whistleblowing Activity

Genova Burns LLC on

On February 16, 2024, the New Jersey Appellate Division in Ugarte v. Barnabas Health Med. Group, upheld the dismissal of a whistleblowing claim filed by a former supervisor. The Court affirmed the trial court’s decision...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Luck may have been the residue of design in jeweler’s age discrimination win

Branch Rickey, former General Manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the man who gave Jackie Robinson his shot in the Big Leagues, once said that luck is the residue of design. (Actually, the phrase may come from the British...more

Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP

Bah! Humbug! An employment law Christmas Carol

With some help from Charles Dickens. Marlie was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of her burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge...more

Ward and Smith, P.A.

Messy "Real Life" LARP: An Employer's Accident Response Deconstructed for In-House Counsel

Ward and Smith, P.A. on

During Ward and Smith’s annual Employment Law Symposium, three attorneys provided insights on a fictional construction company's reaction to a serious job site accident. In the session, the attorneys shed light on key issues...more

Poyner Spruill LLP

Impending EEOC Harassment Guidance Could Mean Policy Changes for Employers

Poyner Spruill LLP on

The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released proposed guidance on September 29, 2023, that explains the legal standards imposed and outlines employer liability with respect to harassment claims...more

McAfee & Taft

Are employers potentially liable for customers’ harassing behavior?

McAfee & Taft on

Typically, harassment claims involve allegations that an individual has been harassed by a co-worker or supervisor. A recent case involving an Illinois casino demonstrates the importance of employers guarding against...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Chicago Enacts New Sexual Harassment Prevention Requirements, Effective July 1

The Chicago City Council recently adopted an ordinance (“Amendments”) amending the Municipal Code of Chicago to require employers to provide training to employees and supervisors on sexual harassment prevention and bystander...more

Sands Anderson PC

Law Invaliding Arbitration Agreements For Sexual Harassment Claims Passes Congress

Sands Anderson PC on

The Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021 has passed Congress and President Biden is expected to sign it into law. The Act invalidates the enforcement of pre-dispute arbitration...more

Dentons

#MeToo Message Received: Congress Nixes Arbitration Clauses

Dentons on

Viewed as a risk mitigation tool, arbitration clauses are included in employment contracts and policies to route employer/employee disputes to a private forum and outside of the courthouse. Employers are attracted to such...more

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

New Texas Law Expands Protections for Employees Asserting Claims of Sexual Harassment

Many states throughout the nation have been expanding employee protections under state and federal law. This year, Texas enacted two bills that significantly expand the protections for employees who assert a claim of sexual...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Texas Expands Employer Liability for Sexual Harassment Claims, Effective September 1, 2021

Epstein Becker & Green on

In the wake of the #MeToo movement, Texas joins a growing number of states enacting legislation that enhances employee protections against sexual harassment in the workplace. Effective September 1, 2021, any Texas employer...more

Jaburg Wilk

What Arizona Employees Need to Know Who Are Being Sexually Harassed at Work

Jaburg Wilk on

While it seems evident that no employer would want an environment where employees are not respected, valued, and protected from being sexually harassed, it still happens. If you work for an Arizona employer, and you are being...more

Dentons

Discrimination Concerns in Skipping Notice Period

Dentons on

Last week, we looked at some of the concerns businesses face when they consider whether to let an employee work the duration of their notice period or if it’s better to cut ties quickly. Read about the issues that notice...more

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Single Use of Racial Epithet by Coworker Insufficient for Suit

The one-time use of a racial epithet by a coworker was not enough to sustain a hostile work environment suit brought by a former employee of a district attorney’s office, a California appellate court has ruled....more

Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC

Labor & Employment Law: Vermont and Federal Legislative Update

Downs Rachlin Martin labor and employment attorneys Amy Resnick and Andrea Wright highlight key Vermont and Federal legislative updates from 2020 that impact HR professionals. They walk through: Vermont minimum wage...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Politics at Work

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

In 2020, politics permeates the workplace. Employers should anticipate election-related issues regardless of whether their workplace is open, remains virtual or falls somewhere in between. Striking a balance between the...more

McAfee & Taft

When harassment spills over into the workplace - Gavel to Gavel

McAfee & Taft on

As Oklahoma lawmakers make their way through the 2020 legislative session, I thought I would take a moment to look back at significant employment-related legislation passed in 2019. For employers, 2019 was the year of the...more

Cozen O'Connor

HR Investigations Pay Dividends: A Healthier Workplace and Protection in Court

Cozen O'Connor on

Many HR professionals spend a significant amount of time investigating employee complaints and, depending on the outcome of these investigations, implementing corrective measures to halt and prevent bad behavior in the...more

Verrill

Identifying and Handling a Hostile Work Environment

Verrill on

Employee claims of “hostile work environments” continue to make news both in Maine and on a national level, putting potentially embarrassing and damaging workplace and employee interpersonal issues into the public eye. But...more

Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

Has the Fourth Circuit Set the Stage for LGBTQ Protections Under Title VII?

The Fourth Circuit’s recent decision in Evangeline Parker v. Reema Consulting Services, Incorporated, 915 F.3d 297 (4th Cir. 2019) grabbed headlines for its controversial ruling that workplace gossip can support a sex...more

39 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 2

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide