It seems that a recent spate of employees, fired because of their use of controlled substances, have been finding novel methods of challenging their dismissals. First was Brian Milam, the Washington pilot who fought to be reinstated at his job after failing a random drug test and admitting to having used marijuana regularly. Now, an… Read More
Posts Categorized In: Workplace Discrimination
Are You Being Asked Legal Questions In An Interview?
Did you know you have legal protections in place even before you interview for a job in Washington? Well you do and you should know them before your next job interview to ensure that your rights are not being violated. Oh, and might we add these rights exist whether or not you get the job…. Read More
Unqualified Veteran Resigns as City Manager – Why Was He Hired?
In a recent post, we discussed how an Oregon employer had allegedly wrongfully discharged a former military service member, denying him his federally mandated employment protection. At the other extreme is the League of Oregon Cities, which hired a former service member to be the city manager for the city of Banks, Oregon – despite… Read More
Does Your Employer Want to Be Your "Friend"?
In the not-so distant past, Facebook was mostly a way of keeping in touch with friends you had not seen since high school, and Twitter was largely used to keep people informed about your thoughts on current events (or, more realistically, your thoughts on what you ate for lunch). In the last few years, however,… Read More
What Constitutes Sexual Harassment in Washington?
You hear the term sexual harassment used all the time, but do you really know what it means? More specifically, do you know what constitutes sexual harassment in Washington? If you answered No to those questions, you are certainly not alone. Generally speaking, sexual harassment is any unwelcome physical or verbal conduct directed at an… Read More
The Basics: Types of Washington Workplace Discrimination
Imagine if every day you went to work you felt like you were being treated unfairly because of something you couldn’t change about yourself. Or every time you did not get a job, you knew the reason was personal and out of your control. Workplace discrimination happens all the time and Washington employees are no… Read More
Governor Announces a Plan to Help Integrate Disabled Oregonians into the General Workforce
As we discussed in our last post, the state of Oregon and Governor John Kitzhaber are facing a serious challenge to the state’s sheltered workshop system for disabled Oregonians. A class action lawsuit led by the organization Disability Rights Oregon (which the United States Department of Justice joined as a co-plaintiff at the beginning of… Read More
Federal Government Claims that Oregon Segregates Disabled Individuals
Earlier this month, the Oregonian published an article reporting that the United States Department of Justice joined a lawsuit against Governor John Kitzhaber and the state of Oregon that demands changes to the state’s “sheltered workshop” system for individuals with severe disabilities. The fact that the Justice Department intervened as a plaintiff into the case… Read More
Bullying in the Workplace – Harassment and Hostile Work Environments
Washington state has addressed bullying in schools. The law states that “‘harassment, intimidation, or bullying’ means any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by any characteristic”. Washington State Statute 2A.300.285 So once you are out of school you never have to deal with bullies… Read More
Washington Superintendent Files Discrimination Lawsuit
A Washington school superintendent is suing the school board in Richland for more than $1 million for an alleged act of discrimination. The Richland School Superintendent was fired because of an affair with another district employee, but has now turned the lawsuit into an issue of discrimination and declared that the board set him apart… Read More