Not all sexual harassment involves sex. Unwanted comments and physical attention can make the workplace an uncomfortable place to be. When these seemingly minor offenses pile up and make a hostile work environment, it can leave you wondering, “Is hugging sexual harassment?” In this blog post I will discuss whether hugging is sexual harassment. I will review reports of Pixar…
When your workplace has an environment of sexual harassment it can feel like no one is listening to your complaints and there’s nothing you can do. An anonymous survey that swept through Nike revealed the company’s focus on athletes had created a locker room mentality. The environment of sexual harassment at Nike drove women away and caused supervisors to ignore…
Increasingly, complaints of workplace discrimination or harassment are settling out of court. Whether through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC’s) mediation process, or as the result of negotiations by private employment discrimination attorneys, these cases often result in settlement agreements, rather than judgments. But what happens after everyone signs on to a discrimination-based settlement agreement? What are your options to…
If you decide to come out at work, can your employer fire you for being transgender? Does it matter if your boss is a Christian? The Sixth Circuit Court says no and no. A religious objection doesn’t overrule transgender discrimination protections under Title VII. In...
Teacher-and-student relationships are one of the most frequent pairings in the media to portray sexual harassment and bullying. In real life, when a professor or dean of a law school targets his employees and students, even a Title IX complaint often isn’t enough to...
Every year, colleges and universities across the country are gear up to connect graduating seniors with employers looking for entry-level employees. But what about those workers who didn’t follow a traditional path to employment? Do college job fairs promote age...
Most employment discrimination cases involve women, African Americans, or other minorities. But in the wake of social pressure toward diversity and inclusion, some are wondering if perceived left-leaning companies like Google have gone too far. Are efforts to diversify the office crossing the line into illegal workplace discrimination for socially conservative views? Are white men becoming the targets of discrimination…
If you have filed a discrimination complaint at work, it can sometimes feel like your employer is ignoring you, or isn’t taking you seriously. And it might be true. How can you know if your employer is doing enough to prevent discrimination or sexual harassment at...
When employment discrimination comes to a head, it may be best for everyone if employer and employee part ways. But do you need to give up your legal civil rights claims to escape a hostile work environment? Can a separation agreement block an employee’s...
The public face of racial discrimination is usually an African American, or possibly Latino. However, members of any minority can face bias and prejudice at work and in their day-to-day lives. Tribal members, and others who identify as Native Americans, face their own...