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The Employer Handbook Blog

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What do you think? Is this a hostile work environment? (Spoiler alert: no.)

Some jobs stink. But that doesn’t make the office a “hostile work environment.” For example, last night, I read about a manager whose employer transferred her to a unit facing a backlog of 12,000 cases. Following the transfer, the manager claimed she endured “constant negative treatment,” was the only one…

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No, my guy, your employer did not unlawfully stereotype your masculinity by firing you for sexual harassment.

I’m going to tell you about what may be the least self-aware employee. At least in recent memory. But first, we need to talk about sex stereotyping. Sex stereotyping is a form of discrimination. Indeed, the Supreme Court has acknowledged that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964…

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“Vague and conclusory” allegations are not enough to pursue claims of discrimination in court.

Discrimination claims are not easy to prove. But, it doesn’t take much for a plaintiff to at least allege in her complaint that her former employer discriminated against her. Except when all you plead are “vague and conclusory” allegations. For example, in a Fifth Circuit decision I read last night,…

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85,286 reasons not to treat an employee differently because their family member is disabled

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires an employer to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. However, the ADA does not require an employer to assist a person without a disability due to that person’s association with someone with a disability. Still,…

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It may be okay to terminate someone after they complain about discrimination if…

A university professor did not have her employment contract renewed after two years on the job. Why not? She claimed it was in retaliation for previous internal complaints of discrimination. According to the school, there were several decision-makers, and most didn’t know she had complained. (So, how could they have…

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What’s the worst that could happen to a former employee who hacks your network and lies to the feds about it?

Well, I don’t know if it’s the worst, but getting sentenced to 24 months in prison for a network intrusion and making false statements to a government agency sounds pretty bad. I was reading about this situation last night, and it sounded like something I would have blogged about before.…