According to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), the companies that produced the television drama “Criminal Minds” failed to address a sexually hostile work environment that went on for 14 years at the show. The DFEH, California’s main...
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Employee Sexual Harassment Claims
Class Sues McDonald’s Stores For ‘Pervasive Sexual Harassment’
McDonald's continues to face litigation over alleged sexual harassment in its store culture. Although previous attempts against the McDonald's Corporation in regard to sexual harassment at franchise restaurants have been unsuccessful, a new lawsuit against 100 Florida...
Federal #MeToo Report: Sexual Harassment Claims Up At Agencies
In the federal workplace, sexual harassment complaints are widespread, especially after the #MeToo movement. Have you been affected? The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights recently released a report scrutinizing sexual harassment claims filed against federal agencies...
Does Your Sexual Harassment Settlement Include An NDA?
Absent a contract to the contrary, workers are generally free to talk about their experiences of sexual harassment or other discrimination in the workplace. This is one reason why it is so common for companies to ask people to sign nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) and...
EEOC, Uber Settle Sexual Harassment Claims In $4.4-Million Deal
In 2017, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) found reasonable cause to believe that Uber Technologies allowed a culture of sexual harassment, along with retaliation against people who complained. The EEOC began the investigation after a viral blog post...
#MeToo Effect: Misconduct Now The Top Reason For CEO Departures
When credible allegations of sexual harassment or other misconduct are made against a top executive, companies need to take them seriously. If someone files a lawsuit, one thing the courts will consider is whether the company made a reasonable effort to investigate...
Can Customers Create A Hostile Work Environment For Workers? Yes.
Can employers be held liable when customers sexually harass workers? Yes, under certain circumstances. Companies have a legal responsibility to protect their workers from a sexually hostile work environment, even when the source of the harassment is a customer. The...
Lesson From CBS’s Firing Of Dushku: Pay Attention To The Evidence
After actor Eliza Dushku complained of sexual harassment on the set of the TV show "Bull," CBS fired her. Moreover, according to a draft internal investigation report, a network lawyer released outtakes from the show in an attempt to discredit Dushku. Those outtakes...
Google, Facebook End Forced Arbitration After Employee Walkouts
In May, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Epic Systems Corp. v. Lewis that individual arbitration clauses in employment contracts are enforceable under the Federal Arbitration Act. Therefore, employers can require, as a condition of employment, employees to agree to...
EEOC: Sexual Harassment Charges Jumped By 12 Percent In FY 2018
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's fiscal year 2018 closed just a few days before the anniversary of the first stories about media mogul Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual misconduct. Outrage against Weinstein and others in Hollywood began a national...