In our last post, we asked the question of whether employees dealing with sexual harassment on a regular basis is the new normal. The question arose in the midst of the latest payout by Fox News to remove someone reportedly accused of harassing female employees. Indeed, the Bill O’Reilly situation is outside of the norm (with regards to payouts for problem employees). But we are concerned because there are potentially thousands of young women who are afraid to speak out against discrimination because they fear losing their jobs.
Is sexual harassment the new normal?
Sexual harassment in the workplace is sadly becoming the new normal. While this may be shocking to some and offending to others, it is unfortunately a statement that has strong statistical roots. On the heels of the recent story regarding Fox News’ payments to settle alleged sexual harassment claims against Bill O’Reilly, we have noticed a disturbing trend of high profile sexual harassment incidents.
What to expect in your employee handbook
Your new job may be a lifelong achievement, or may just be the next job in a line of many that simply makes ends meet. Regardless, you should be ready for the learning curve expected of newcomers to the organization. If you take part in new employee orientation, part of the presentation will focus on salient parts of the employee handbook. Before you subject this to the back part of your memory, there are some important points to consider. As such, this post will highlight a few elements that your handbook should have.
Back Wages, Interest, and Penalties Recovered on Behalf of Workers at the Daily Grill Restaurant
On January 17, 2017, HSR prevailed at trial on claims against the Daily Grill Restaurant, located at the Westin LAX, for failing to pay workers the required living wage for more than three years. As a result, class members have been paid $165,994 in back wages, and were awarded over $300,000 in prejudgment interest and waiting time penalties.
Hadsell Stormer's Dan Stormer and Cindy Panuco are recognized by the Daily Journal at the 2017 California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year ("CLAY Awards")
Dan Stormer, Cindy Pánuco, and the litigation team in the matter of Rodriguez v. City of Los Angeles, were recognized for their work in this groundbreaking case, at the Daily Journal's 21st Annual California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year Awards in San Francisco, CA on March 15, 2017. Rodriguez, a civil rights class action challenged the constitutionality of a curfew provision in 26 gang injunctions in the City of Los Angeles. The litigation resulted in a finding by a federal court, that the City had violated the civil rights of over 5,600 class members who were served with a gang injunction containing the curfew. To settle the matter, the City also agreed to establish an unprecedented $30 million Jobs and Education Program and to offer tattoo removal services. In addition the City agree to allow a federal magistrate judge to hear the requests of thousands of class members, who want to be removed from the gang injunctions. This provides thousands in the City of Los Angeles a chance at getting off of the injunctions, which had not existed before the settlement was reached. http://www.callawyer.com/2017/03/2017-clay-awards/
Appeals court rules that LGBT employees are a protected class
A federal appeals court recently ruled that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation. The ruling is the first recognition of such rights extending to LGBT employees.
