Hostile Work Environment Definition
post

Age Discrimination or Disciplinary Policy Exception: Why Does the Text Message Generation Get More Chances?

Girl Texting

Does your company state that it will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, nationality, disability or gender?  Does your company also have a written progressive disciplinary policy? Do your supervisors always follow each step of the progressive discipline policy?  A new court ruling says that if they don't, you could successfully sue and win significant money damages pursuant to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The Real Case of Cynthia and Leann: Cynthia Kildoo and Leann Richter worked as retail sales associates (RSA's) at a Cellular One store. Both were over 40. The company set specific sales quotas for its RSAs.  For those who failed to meet their quotas, like Cynthia and Leann, Cellular One instructed its store managers to follow its written … [Read more...]

post

iTunes Selects The Hostile Workplace Podcast for “New & Notable” Recognition

itunesart125x125

"The Hostile Workplace Podcast" is currently a "New & Notable" selection in iTunes.  Thanks so much to everyone who has visited iTunes and subscribed to the podcast and left a postive comment in iTunes.  Each of those things is like a vote that the Hostile Workplace Podcast should be featured more prominently.  And it's working.  This is just one small way that we can bring more awareness to the issue of bullying bosses that turn good jobs in hostile nighmares that no one deserves. If you would like to see for youself where the Hostile Workplace Podcast is featured in iTunes just follow these steps: 1) Open the iTunes software; 2) Click on iTunes Store; 3) Click on "Podcasts", then "Business", then "Careers".  The "New & Notable" box is the top center feature.  You may … [Read more...]

post

Hostile Work Place Podcast #2: Sex Harassment

Boss touching subordinate

Download PDF Transcript In The Hostile Work Place Podcast, Episode #2, we discuss the most explosive of work subjects, sexual harassment.  During the show we explain how the U.S. Supreme Court recognizes two types of sexual harassment: Quid Pro Quo (latin for "something traded for something") Hostile Work Environment based on sex We also explain how you can evaluate whether or not an action can be considered sexual harassment by using the idea of "unwelcomeness". If unwelcomness is established, a court will look to four factors to evaluate whether a hostile work environment based on sex exists.  Those four factors are: Frequency of the offensive conduct Severity of the offensive conduct Whether the offensive conduct was physically threatening or … [Read more...]

post

El Acoso Sexual

Este es el Abogado Encubierto y este es el episodio 2 del podcast sobre el "Lugar de Trabajo Hostil". En el programa de hoy vamos a hablar sobre el tópico de todos los tópicos en el trabajo, el acoso sexual, que con frecuencia es mal entendido y podría ser la base para entender muchos de los otros tipos de discriminaciones en el trabajo. Para el consejo rápido de hoy, vamos a hablar sobre cómo asegurarse lo que hay en sus dos archivos de empleado. Es correcto, en ambos, y lo explicaremos cuando lleguemos a esa parte de este programa. Primero, el anuncio, tenemos nuestro foro marchando en UndercoverLawyer.com/forum, y es grandioso ver que en los últimos 10 días realmente  ha explotado. Tenemos el concurso avanzando por un Apple iPhone 3G, el que alguien al final del mes lo … [Read more...]

post

Age Discrimination: Beware a Sudden Change in Your Performance Appraisals

Getting fired

Starbucks announced it is closing 600 stores. American Airlines announced it is laying off 900 flight attendants. Polaroid is shutting down two manufacturing plants. The computer chip maker AMD is cutting 10% of its workforce. From coffee to cameras, to computers to planes, people across all industries are facing mass layoffs and the potential to lose their jobs. As an employment lawyer, I always advise companies that the only safe way to conduct a layoff is to follow this simple rule: “Last hired, first fired.” Defense attorneys love this way of selecting employees for layoff, because it is objective. There no way for discriminatory motives and biases to creep into a system that is based solely on dates of hire. But do companies use “Last hired, first fired”? Usually not. … [Read more...]