Employment Blog

Topic: Sexual Harassment

Hostile Work Environment Follows Sexual Harassment

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.

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McDonald’s Sexual Harassment Lawsuits Span Nine States

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

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Sexual Discrimination and Retaliation Burns in California

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

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Fox News Settles Racial and Gender Discrimination Suits

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,

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U.S. Senate Addresses Sexual Harassment on Capitol Hill

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

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How Emojis Lost a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

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

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Oregon Laws Regarding Romance in the Workplace

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

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Colorado Forest Service History of Sexual Harassment Exposed

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,

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Bill to Force Arbitration in Workplace Discrimination Lawsuits Dies

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

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Teachers’ #MeToo Movement and Sexual Harassment from Students

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

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Boulder Colorado Company Facing Wrongful Termination Suit Closes

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

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California Company Sued for Sexual Harassment

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

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Employer Neutrality Questioned in Harassment Claims

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

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Oregon Laws on Sexual Harassment at Work

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

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Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

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

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Sexual Harassment and Disability Accommodation Claims Dismissed

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

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