Andrew MacDonald is a visual effects specialist. While on the job, he witnessed an executive using cocaine while both were in the men's restroom. MacDonald reported the illegal activity to his superiors and was promptly fired.
Sierra Pacific Industries Settles Wrongful Termination Lawsuit
Ahmed Elshenawy, a former employee of Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI), claimed that he was repeatedly harassed by coworkers following the terrorist attacks of 9/11. He is of Egyptian decent and was harassed because of his national origin and the color of his skin, based on a complaint made to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Federal Protections Coming For Pregnant Workers?
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate last month and would require employers to provide reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees similar to those required under the ADA for employees with disabilities.
Fighting For A Combat Role: Women File Suit Against Pentagon
A lawsuit that would require the military to stop gender discrimination in employment was recently filed against the Pentagon. Army Col. Ellen Haring is leading the fight, seeking to declare the Pentagon's practice of excluding women from 150,000 available jobs in the military, unconstitutional.
EEOC Promises To Do More To Stop Pregnancy Discrimination
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has promised a crack down on employers who discriminate against pregnant employees in violation of federal and state protections. Too many employers continue to penalize their female work force because of pregnancy," noted District Director of the EEOC in Birmingham, Delner Franklin-Thomas.
Beverly Hills Restaurant Sued For Sexual Harassment
A waitress at Beverly Hills restaurant Villa Blanca has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the owners, a manager who allegedly harassed her and the restaurant itself. Karina Bustillos claims that, despite complaints to the restaurant's general manager, nothing was done to stop Michael Govia from behaving inappropriately toward her in the workplace.
Vineyard Settlement Highlights National Origin Discrimination
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees from discrimination on the basis of certain characteristics. While gender, race, and religion protections are familiar to many readers, the statute also protects employees from discrimination related to national origin.
Three Lawsuits Points To A Harassment-Prone Industry: Farming
In an indication of potentially wide-spread discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed three new lawsuits against employers last week. All of the suits share two things in common: they allege horrific acts of sexual harassment and they target farming industry employers.
Sexual Harassment Suit Targets California Discrimination Attorney
A new sexual harassment case levels allegations against a disabled California lawyer. The case claims that the lawyer discriminated against employees and job applicants before firing one of the plaintiffs because she mentioned her concerns with these practices.
Personality Tests and Employment Discrimination, Part 2
Earlier this week, we covered employers' use of personality tests to inform hiring decisions. While experts disagree on the extent to which personality tests actually help determine an candidate's potential, nearly 20 percent of workplaces reported using them.
Teenage Intern Sues Hospital For Sex Assault, Lack Of Supervision
A new federal lawsuit against a California hospital alleges that it failed to properly supervise one of its employees. This lack of supervision apparently allowed an employee to repeatedly harass and eventually assault a teenage intern. The suit claims that the hospital did not provide enough training or supervision to protect its young interns from potential workplace harms like sexual harassment.
Personality Tests and Employment Discrimination, Part 1
A hearing and speech-impaired woman recently filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging that an employer discriminated against her based on the results of a personality test. Personality tests are a common recruiting tool and the results can sometimes mean the difference between a new job opportunity and a rejection.
