The employer's best defenses are always careful investigations, with accurate and detailed evaluations and write-ups. A focused follow-up after listening to the employee's specific complaint is suggested.

Third-Party Discrimination Complaints Get New Life

Complaint causes fiancé's discharge

Lawsuits involving office romances are rarely a good thing for employers. In January of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court [1] decided that firing an employee who was the fiancé of a female employee who filed a discrimination claim was a form of illegal retaliation. Eric Thompson and his fiancée, Miriam Regalado, were both employed at a Kentucky plant. Three weeks after Regalado filed a discrimination claim, her fiancé was fired. Not unnaturally, the Court reasoned that employees would be hesitant to file a discrimination claim if they knew their fiancé or family member would be fired as a result.