In This Chapter:

WORKPLACE HARASSMENT – WHY IT MATTERS -

II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKPLACE HARASSMENT IN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME

COURT -

III. HARASSMENT LAW IN THE FIFTH CIRCUIT AND TEXAS -

A. Sexual Harassment -

1. Severe or Pervasive? -

2. Ellerth Defense -

B. Same-Sex Harassment -

1. Fifth Circuit -

2. Texas -

C. Race and National Origin Harassment -

1. Fifth Circuit -

2. Texas -

D. Religious Harassment -

1. Fifth Circuit -

2. Texas -

E. Disability Harassment -

1. Fifth Circuit -

2. Texas -

F. Age Harassment -

1. Fifth Circuit -

2. Texas -

G. USERRA Harassment -

IV. ADOPTING A HARASSMENT POLICY -

V. WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS -

A. Why Investigate -

B. Components of the Investigation -

1. Promptness -

2. Thoroughness -

3. Action Taken -

4. Follow Up -

C. Conducting the Investigation -

1. Who Will Conduct -

2. Timing and Order -

3. Objectives of the Investigation -

4. Identify Other Resources Needed -

5. Assemble Important Documentation -

D. Launching the Investigation -

1. Review Policies and Procedures -

2. Analyze Relevant Documents -

3. Decide Who, When & Where -

4. General Questioning -

E. Dealing with Resistance -

1. Individual Representation of Employees -

2. Representation of the Accused -

3. Representation of the Complaining Party -

F. Interview Complaining Party -

1. Questions -

G. Interview Alleged Offender -

1. Questions -

2. Discuss Process -

Harassment in the Workplace: Dangerous Liaisons Chapter7

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3. Beware of Liability for “Sex Stereotyping” -

H. Interview Witnesses -

1. Determine Who to Interview-

2. Questions -

3. Confidentiality Importance -

4. Retaliation -

I. Making a Determination -

VI. TAKING ACTION -

A. Recommend Action -

B. Courts are Requiring More from Employers -

1. EEOC v. Central Wholesalers, Inc., 573 F.3d 167 (4th Cir. 2009) -

C. Importance of Documentation -

1. Be Cautious about Wording -

2. Investigation Report -

D. Follow-Up -

VII. UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS: DISQUALIFICATION OF COUNSEL AND LOSS OF PRIVILEGES -

A. Disqualification of Counsel -

1. Disqualification of Counsel under Texas Law -

2. The Fifth Circuit Approach to Disqualification of Counsel -

B. Maintaining the Privilege -

VIII. CONCLUSION -

POWERPOINT PRESENTATION -