When an employee of NBC Universal (NBCU) reported that she was being subjected to unwelcome sexual remarks while on the job, the company did not investigate the allegations to her satisfaction. Instead, she claims, her supervisor retaliated against her for making the report, and she ultimately lost her job altogether.
In the wake of the #MeToo movement, sexual harassment and misconduct lawsuits have taken center stage across a nation that has had to take a hard look in the mirror. In terms of lawsuits, companies can be held liable when an employee files a complaint against a co-worker or a
The #MeToo movement continues to see aftershocks ripple across various industries. The latest is from McDonald’s employees in nine different states. That includes one right here in Missouri. 10 McDonald’s employees are alleging sexual assault or harassment within McDonald’s franchises. A St. Louis teenager is alleging unwanted groping, unwanted sexual
Sexual discrimination can come in many forms. When firefighters decided to fight back against it in California, they made the case that it is impossible to successfully complete their mission when suffering the impacts of this devastating and illegal form of discrimination. In each case, reporting the discrimination resulted in
Fox News has been forced to dish out nearly $10 million in settlements for multiple lawsuits that allege both gender and racial discrimination. Most of the suits brought against Fox alleged racial discrimination, but some alleged gender discrimination and retaliation. The deal was announced on May 16th. It was, however,
The U.S. Senate passed a bill co-authored by Missouri congressman Roy Blunt that effectively modernized the process of reporting sexual harassment on Capitol Hill. The bill was backed by both Republican and Democratic leaders. The law will replace legislation passed in 1995 called the Congressional Accountability Act. Proponents of the
When sending a text message, one of the many things lost in translation is inflection. Words, by their very nature, lend themselves to interpretation. Not only is it harder to communicate via text, it is harder to get a feel for the meaning behind what people are saying. If we
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center recently dismissed one its researchers amid complaints of workplace sexual harassment. Since the #MeToo social media movement raised awareness around the perils of simply being a woman in the workplace, workplaces have been under scrutiny to address the problem of sexual harassment. Those that
At some point in your working career, you may have witnessed or even been part of a workplace romance. Surveys show that 80% of employees in Oregon have either experienced or observed romantic affairs at work. Problems With Workplace Romance in Oregon Romantic affairs in the workplace are more common
The year 2017 will forever go down in history as the year that Hollywood came together and held the men in power accountable for failing to create safe, comfortable workspaces for everyone. Names like Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Morgan Spurlock, and Kevin Spacey populated news headlines. A number of people
In what has become a troubling trend for Missouri Department of Corrections, another employee has won a sexual harassment lawsuit against the department. The state paid out another $600,000 to settle a lawsuit brought on by Michelle Findley, a prison guard, who said that male employees referred to her using
It began amid the allegations made by high-profile actresses against Harvey Weinstein. They reported that Weinstein had used his position as a producer and the co-founder of Miramax to lure aspiring actresses into his hotel room with promises that if they performed sexual favors for him, it would help their
11 women and one man are taking their case to Federal Court against the International House of Pancakes. The plaintiffs allege that managers at the IHOPs that they worked for in Glen Carbon and Alton, Illinois acted indifferently amid their numerous complaints of sexual harassment and misconduct against staff. The
Reporting instances of inappropriate behavior to a supervisor, boss, or human resources administrator should not be a difficult process. Employees are entitled to a safe, comfortable workplace. More often than not, when sexual harassment lawsuits are brought to employment attorneys, it is because a company has failed the basic standard
Over the past few years, movements such as Me Too and Time’s Up have led to a growing awareness of sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the work place. Women from all walks of life have come forward to share their stories and draw attention to the inequality women in
PBS NewsHour’s report exposing a hostile work environment and numerous instances of sexual harassment in the Colorado United States Forest Service has placed the agency under extreme scrutiny. Prior to the allegations, the Forest Service made numerous claims that outlined training to prevent sexual harassment in the form of assaults,
A bill that would have forced Missouri’s workers to settle workplace discrimination lawsuits through private arbitration as opposed to the courts has died in committee. The bill would have strengthened the enforceability of employee contracts that require employees to settle workplace discrimination lawsuits via private arbitration as opposed to the
Since strengthening its policies against sexual harassment complaints in 2015, the Missouri legislature has faced twice as many allegations of sexual misconduct as it did in the two years prior. Whether this is a result of more misconduct being committed by legislators or it is the impact of having created
Among the many obstacles that Missouri’s Senate Bill 43 placed in front of Missouri workers attempting to receive compensation for employer malfeasance, it also shielded those responsible for perpetrating sexual misconduct in the workplace from being directly held accountable. An employee can still sue his or her employer for fostering
Worldwide, individuals with disabilities face social barriers and experience discrimination in situations across a broad spectrum of locations on a daily basis. These include opportunities to enjoy public buildings and community events, to participate in athletic events, and access to educational and employment opportunities, among others. In the United States,
In December of 2017, a Missouri Department of Corrections employee filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections. The suit alleges that male employees called her vulgar names, made inappropriate comments about her body, and asked for sex on numerous occasions. The plaintiff, Jennifer LeFleur alleges that
The #metoo movement, the social media flashpoint regarding sexual harassment in employment, may be focused on Hollywood. However, the movement has inspired women and men from all occupations to come forward and share their stories. One such woman is, Eva Rieder, a high school teacher in California who recently spoke of
Those who have suffered sexual harassment in the workplace are often so overwhelmed by the experience that they neglect to handle it correctly in terms of the law. In order to bring litigation against an employer for sexual harassment, an employee must be able to show that the employer was
In January of 2014, the state of Colorado legalized recreational marijuana sales, approving over 100 seller license applications. By 2016, information obtained by the Colorado Department of Revenue revealed that the legal marijuana industry was bringing in over $1 billion annually. Numerous companies sought to profit from the growing industry
You can not turn on the news these days without hearing about new claims of sexual harassment. Most of the time, these claims involve well-known Hollywood figures like Harvey Weinstein and Louis C.K., political power players like Al Franken and Roy Moore, and even newsmen like Charlie Rose and Matt
The recent revelations that rocked the entertainment industry have led to the exposure of a culture of harassment in workplaces throughout Colorado. When women around the world shared stories of harassment and sexual assault using the #MeToo, residents of Colorado learned of misconduct within the state government. After the initial
The laws regarding sexual harassment have implications for many people who may not even be aware of their existence. For example, they can have serious consequences for the victim, perpetrator, and even the employer. Employers may be called upon to protect their workers. There are certain key issues of which
Recent news pertaining to a former state senator has put the question of sexual harassment front and center in Nevada politics, serving as a valuable reminder for employers who must confront the issue, as well. Recent reports indicate that investigation of now-resigned Sen. Mark Manendo has cost the state between
Sexual harassment can make a workplace more than a little uncomfortable, whether the offending behaviors are directed at you, personally, or at another individual or group. If you feel the environment at your place of work is unhealthy due to sexually offensive comments, jokes, emails, or gestures, or if you
A lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Evans Fruit, one of the largest apple growers in the United States, was recently dismissed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. This dismissal, in conjunction with the EEOC’s loss of a related trial, has
The Washington Court of Appeals recently affirmed the dismissal of an interesting case involving allegations of sexual harassment, retaliation, and disability discrimination. Briefly, the plaintiff, Moon, was allegedly asked for sex and sexually assaulted by a supervisor at her home after a party with other coworkers. She complained about the
