Articles on workplace-related issues from newspapers and Internet news sources around the country.
March 27, 2020
Bosses Panic-Buy Spy Software to Keep Tabs on Remote Workers
Source: Polly Mosendz and Anders Melin, Bloomberg
Straight-up Big Brother, perhaps, but it’s perfectly legal for businesses to keep an unblinking eye on employees as long as they disclose they’re doing it. Of course, digital surveillance has been used for years on office desktops, yet it seems a violation of privacy to a lot of workers when they’re required to have software on their computers that tracks their every move in their own homes.
A far-right rallying cry: Older Americans should volunteer to work
Source: Tina Nguyen, Politico
Forget “15 days to slow the spread.” A growing chorus of conservatives have started arguing that older adults should voluntarily return to work to save the country from financial ruin.
San Francisco Says Coronavirus Has Made Gig Economy’s Labor Abuses Untenable
Source: Edward Ongweso Jr, Vice
On Tuesday, San Francisco lawmakers introduced a resolution condemning “app-based employers” such as Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, and Postmates for illegally misclassifying their employees as contractors, calling for emergency injunctive relief in addition to enforcement of Assembly Bill 5.
Can your boss make you come to work during coronavirus outbreak?
Source: Dalvin Brown, USA Today
As the coronavirus pandemic ramps up, workers might be wondering what rights they have if (or when) their higher-ups request that they return to the office.Can your boss actually force you to work during a pandemic?
University of Rochester and plaintiffs settle sexual harassment lawsuit for $9.4 million
Source: Meredith Wadman, Science Magazine
The University of Rochester has agreed to pay $9.4 million to nine plaintiffs in a sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuit.
March 26, 2020
Gig workers with COVID-19 symptoms say it's hard to get sick leave from Uber, Lyft, Instacart
Source: Dara Kerr, CNET
The gig economy companies promised workers paid leave if they got the virus or were quarantined. Here are stories from five people who've struggled to get help.
Are You Leading Through the Crisis … or Managing the Response?
Source: Eric J. McNulty and Leonard Marcus, Harvard Business Review
The actions of executives and their teams now, in the midst of this crisis, will significantly determine their fate.
Coronavirus' economic toll: Jobless claims soar to record high amid shutdowns
Source: Rebecca Rainey and Nolan D. McCaskill, Politico
Unemployment claims skyrocketed more than 1,000 percent last week to 3.3 million, the Labor Department reported Thursday, as the coronavirus pandemic and government measures to limit its devastation brought huge swaths of the U.S. economy to a halt.
Employers must revisit workplace compliance amid COVID-19 pandemic
Source: Kenneth Corbin, EPN
Amid the massive upheaval brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, employers need to reevaluate their regulatory and compliance programs and policies, both with an eye toward the letter of the law and the spirit of the times, workplace policy experts caution.
Here's what's in the $2 trillion stimulus package — and what's next
Source: Caitlin Emma and Jennifer Scholtes, Politico
The biggest economic stimulus in American history is hurtling toward passage, but Washington’s colossal intervention to save the economy still chooses winners and losers among businesses and American workers.
March 25, 2020
'God is in control:' Hobby Lobby to remain open during pandemic
Source: Kyle Spinner, CBS 12
As many retailers around the country close their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, one continues to remain open. Hobby Lobby says it'll continue to operate business as usual, but will take measures to keep shoppers and workers safe.
8 Ways to Manage Your Team While Social Distancing
Source: Timothy R. Clark, Harvard Business Review
It’s challenging enough to manage yourself in quarantine without face-to-face human interaction and the structure of a typical workday. Now add to that the task of managing a team under those conditions, especially when you’ve never done it before. It’s daunting.
Coronavirus among air traffic control workers could threaten U.S. aviation system
Source: Brianna Gurciullo, Politico
A major outbreak of the coronavirus among air traffic controllers could threaten much of the U.S. aviation system's efficiency, revealing weaknesses in the Federal Aviation Administration's contingency plans.
Workplace age discrimination could become even harder to prove in court
Source: Catherine Harnois, New Haven Register
If the Trump administration is successful in arguing that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act applies only when age is the solitary factor in a federal employer’s conduct, the burden of proof for those encountering age discrimination will raise to an even higher level.
Byron Allen Loses Racial Discrimination Supreme Court Case
Source: Bryan Sullivan , Forbes
The United States Supreme Court today ruled in a unanimous decision that Byron Allen and his company Entertainment Studios Network (ESN) bore the burden of showing that race was the “but-for” cause of injury in the racial discrimination case brought against Comcast.
Tips if you’re let go because of coronavirus
Source: John Aidan Byrne, New York Post
Workers fired or dislocated by the coronavirus have big questions about everything from health care and unemployment benefits to fears of termination and coronavirus exposure.
March 24, 2020
CVS to hire 50,000 workers, gives bonuses to employees amid coronavirus pandemic
Source: Nathan Bomey, USA Today
CVS Health is hiring 50,000 workers and delivering bonuses to employees who are required to work on-site during the coronavirus pandemic.
The company's CVS Pharmacy locations remain open during the COVID-19 crisis.
CVS is giving workers bonuses of up to $500. Eligible recipients include pharmacists, store employees and managers.
State Workers Seek To Protect Labor Rights As The Corona Virus Spreads
Source: Rachel M. Cohen, The Intercept
A week after declaring a state of emergency due to the spread of Covid-19, Minnesota’s Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order pertaining to his state’s 50,000 executive branch employees. The order extended paid leave to all state employees for absences like caring for children due to school closures, and authorized agency heads to waive parts of collective bargaining agreements so as to more easily deploy workers where and when needed.
EEOC Stands by Decision to Discontinue Pay Data Collection
Source: Paige Smith, Bloomberg Law
The EEOC made official its decision to discontinue employer gender and race pay data reporting Friday, informing the White House that it will seek to collect only workforce diversity information for the next three years.
Indiana Running Coach Gets Sex Discrimination Claims Reinstated
Source: Peter Hayes, Bloomberg Law
A female running coach passed over for two positions with an Indiana school district will have another opportunity to pursue sex discrimination claims, after the Seventh Circuit found a trial court improperly weighed the evidence.
March 23, 2020
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights
Source: DOL, Department of Labor
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick or family leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. The Department of Labor’s (Department) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) administers and enforces the new law’s paid leave requirements. These provisions will apply from the effective date through December 31, 2020.
What can I do if my workplace doesn’t seem safe from coronavirus?
Source: Andrew J. Tobias, Cleveland
We’ve been hearing this from readers: What if my company’s workplace policies and practices don’t make me feel safe, given everything that’s been going on with coronavirus?
7 Workplace Injuries That Can Put You Out of Business
Source: Arkady Bukh, Entrepreneur
As with all rules, there are exceptions, and this is where employers and business owners must be cautious. A successful personal-injury lawsuit due can be costly, and in some cases, cost you your business. So, when can your employee sue you for injuries on the job?
What Is a Workforce Reduction?
Source: Dave Butler, The Street
As innovation continues to try to hack away at traditional jobs, the topic of workforce reductions is likely to intensify depending on what side of the equation you are on.
Why workers’ compensation might not provide relief for Pennsylvanians sickened by the coronavirus
Source: Rebecca Moss, PA Post
Pa. officials say those who contract the coronavirus on the job might be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. But legal and public health experts say that help may be very hard to obtain.
March 20, 2020
What the Newly Passed Families First Coronavirus Response Act Means for You
Source: Suzanne Lucas, INC
You
President Trump signed a coronavirus relief package into law on Wednesday night that provides paid leave benefits and additional unemployment benefits for U.S. workers.
Half of U.S. Workers Expect COVID-19 to Harm Workplace
Source: Megan Brenan, Gallup
As U.S. employers rapidly adapt their workplaces to avoid further community spread of COVID-19, American workers offer a mixed assessment of how the disease will affect their place of work. Half say COVID-19 will have a negative effect on their company or workplace -- either very (18%) or somewhat negative (32%) -- while 50% say it will not negatively affect their workplace.
Millions of American workers are left out of the coronavirus paid leave bill
Source: Anna North, Vox
One of the biggest problems facing the United States during the coronavirus pandemic is a lack of paid leave for workers.
Even though health officials recommend that anyone who feels sick stay home from work to help slow the spread of the virus, many Americans risk losing pay — or their jobs — if they stay home. And with schools and daycare centers closed across the country, many parents have few job protections if they take time off to care for their kids.
Do Women Still Need the Equal Rights Amendment? Yes. Here’s Why.
Source: Genie Harrison, Ms. Magazine
The ERA, originally passed in 1972, was an attempt to enshrine in the U.S. Constitution the idea that all American citizens regardless of gender have equal rights “in terms of divorce, property, employment, and other matters.” It should have been an uncontroversial concept—but by its 1982 deadline, only 35 of the 38 states necessary had ratified the ERA.
Call Center Workers Fear For Their Health as They Work in “One Big Germ Pool”
Source: Hamilton Nolan, In These Times
Employees of a large Consumer Cellular call center in Arizona say that their health is in danger from the spread of the coronavirus, as their company has kept hundreds of people in the call center working in close quarters even as it has shuttered its corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon.*
March 19, 2020
What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19
Source: EEOC, EEOC
What You Should Know About the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and COVID-19
Processes to Implement in Your Workplace During the COVID-19 Epidemic
Source: Chana Perton, Atlanta Small Business Network
While some businesses are shutting down or telecommuting during the COVID-19 pandemic, many are still open. These businesses will need to take extra precautions during this time to help prevent the spread of the virus within their workspaces.
A Guide to Managing Your (Newly) Remote Workers
Source: Barbara Z. Larson , Susan R. Vroman and Erin E. Makarius, Harvard Business Review
In response to the uncertainties presented by Covid-19, many companies and universities have asked their employees to work remotely. While close to a quarter of the U.S. workforce already works from home at least part of the time, the new policies leave many employees — and their managers — working out of the office and separated from each other for the first time.
When Home Becomes The Workplace: Mental Health And Remote Work
Source: Garen Staglin
This week, and certainly in coming weeks, most major companies including Apple, Google and Amazon required employees to work from home to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While the immediate health benefits of avoiding common workspaces are obvious in the face of a frightening pandemic, it is important to consider the mental health consequences that can come with working remotely.
March 18, 2020
BHT Constructions to Pay $38,000 to Settle EEOC Sex Discrimination Suit
Source: EEOC, EEOC
BHT Constructions LLC, a construction contracting company based in Davie, Fla., has agreed to pay $38,000 and furnish other relief to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
Social Distancing in the Workplace -- Here's What You Can Do Right Now to Make a Difference
Source: David Finkel, INC
For many business owners, having a remote workforce has been a very personal decision until now. Some owners prefer their team to collaborate face-to-face, while others prefer to use technology and give their team the opportunity to work from home or while on the road. Unfortunately, with the recent coronavirus pandemic many business owners have been faced with some tough decisions regarding their businesses and their teams in terms of social distancing. Which has led to some very important discussions between you and your staff.
Which Workers Are Most Vulnerable To The Economic Costs Of The Coronavirus?
Source: Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux and Ryan Best, FiveThirtyEight
Kolby Ledbetter, 25, began worrying about the new coronavirus a few weeks ago, when it became clear that it was starting to spread in the United States. He works two jobs — a full-time job as an Americorps service member in Chicago and a part-time job at a bar — and at first, his main concern was for his health, since he doesn’t have paid leave at his bar job or health insurance to fall back on.
March 17, 2020
KTF Enterprises and Kirker Enterprises to Settle EEOC Disability Lawsuit for $175,000
Source: EEOC, EEOC
KTF Enterprises, Inc. and Kirker Enterprises, Inc., related nail polish manufacturers, have agreed to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. Three former employees with disabilities will receive $175,000 in monetary relief resulting from the settlement.
Steps for Companies Expanding Remote Workforce Due to Coronavirus
Source: Daniel Messeloff, Bloomberg Law
In light of concerns about the spread of the new coronavirus, many businesses are permitting employees who can work remotely to do so.
Although this measure is appropriate in order to mitigate health and safety concerns, there are several steps that any companies that are considering permitting remote work to consider and to undertake as appropriate.
Workers say gig companies doing 'bare minimum' during coronavirus outbreak
Source: Sara Ashley O'Brien, CNN Business
One after the other, many gig companies have said in recent days that they will compensate workers diagnosed with coronavirus or placed under quarantine by public health authorities. Putting aside the fact a diagnosis may be difficult to prove given availability and criteria for a test, many workers can't afford to stop working, yet fear contracting the virus.
Maine employers send workers home, make drastic changes
Source: Edward D. Murphy , Press Herald
Large employers in southern Maine are eliminating travel, cutting back on meetings, barring visitors from offices and asking employees to work from home in response to the escalating coronavirus pandemic.
Three Ways the Labor Department Would Aid Coronavirus Relief
Source: Chris Opfer, Bloomberg Law
The Labor Department would enforce new paid sick leave requirements and health insurers’ obligation to pick up the tab for testing under the bipartisan emergency coronavirus relief package pending in Congress.
March 16, 2020
The House coronavirus bill’s paid leave provision would leave out millions of workers
Source: Anya van Wagtendonk, Vox
A sweeping House bill will provide paid leave for Americans dealing with the coronavirus. But the legislation leaves out millions.
Healthcare workers fear greater coronavirus risk due to safety gear shortage
Source: Emily Baumgaertner and Soumya Karlamangla, Los Angeles Times
Federal officials have begun urging healthcare workers to switch from respirator face masks to looser surgical ones, a move that is raising alarms among doctors and nurses who say they will now be less protected when treating highly infectious coronavirus patients.
Did U.S. Response To COVID-19 Lag Due To Age Discrimination?
Source: Patricia Barnes, Forbes
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was quoted this week as saying that some countries deemed the coronavirus threat “less worthy of the best efforts to contain it” because those who are most affected are senior or older people.
The Coronavirus and Your Job: What the Boss Can—and Can’t—Make You Do
Source: Rachel Feintzeig and Chip Cutter, The Wallstreet Journal
Workplace efforts to contain the outbreak’s spread are raising a new set of questions for employees and employers. We answer them.
The Bosses Who Prefer When Employees Work From Home
Source: Te-Ping Chen, The Wallstreet Journal
For some companies, working from home was already a default way of doing business. They’ve learned some important lessons about how to make the system work.
How to tell your boss you’re working from home because of coronavirus
Source: Jenni Avins, QZ
As the coronavirus spreads around the world, public-health experts are encouraging people to engage in social distancing: The limiting of non-essential gatherings. And thanks to technology, many professionals can now work from anywhere with a laptop and a high-speed internet connection.
March 13, 2020
Haynes International to Pay $180,000 to Resolve EEOC Age Discrimination Allegation
Source: EEOC, EEOC
Haynes International Inc, a metals company headquartered in Kokomo, Ind., has agreed to pay $180,000 and furnish other relief to resolve a charge alleging age discrimination investigated by the Indianapolis District Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
Childcare As A Workforce Issue: Competing For Female Talent In A Tight Labor Market
Source: Christine Michel Carter, Forbes
According to a survey of 3,000 working parents conducted by LinkedIn and Censuswide, almost half of working moms take an extended break — time off from work beyond the maternity leave allowance — after the birth of their children.
3 Ways The Coronavirus Outbreak May Change The Workforce
Source: Ashley Stahl, Forbes
When global health emergencies take place, they often bring to light gaps within the infrastructure of the world—and the workplace. It’s up to businesses to recognize these gaps and make improvements to protect their employees in the future.
As coronavirus spreads, which U.S. workers have paid sick leave – and which don’t?
Source: Drew DeSilver, Pew Research Center
As COVID-19 continues its spread throughout the United States – with at least 1,267 cases and 38 deaths reported across the country as of March 12 – one of the key pieces of advice offered by health experts is simple: If you feel sick, stay home.
There may be good news on the horizon for workers over 50
Source: Richard Eisenberg, Maryland Matters
The unemployment rate of 3.6% nationally (2.5% or less in five states) means businesses, governments and nonprofits are scrambling to find workers and hold on to the ones they have.
Proposal would remove legal obstacles for sexual harassment victims
Source: Johnny Edwards, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A bill pending in the Georgia legislature would overhaul the legal rights of sexual harassment victims, removing obstacles that leave workers vulnerable to having their careers destroyed when a co-worker won’t take no for an answer.
Judge Accused Of 20 Years Of Sexual Harassment Faces New Lawsuit
Source: Kathryn Rubino, Above The Law
The disciplinary action details 20 years’ worth of alleged harassing behavior. He’s alleged to have groped a fellow judge, commented on the rear end of another, made sexual advances to multiple police officers assigned to work with him over the years, and “engaged in a pattern of poor demeanor towards colleagues and court employees.”
U.S. Labor Department allows jobless benefits for coronavirus
Source: Lucia Mutikani, Reuters
The U.S. Labor Department on Thursday gave states flexibility to amend their laws to provide unemployment benefits in events related to the coronavirus in an effort to limit the damage on the economy from the pandemic.
March 12, 2020
COVID-19 or Other Public Health Emergencies and the Fair Labor Standards Act Questions and Answers
Source: Department of Labor, Department of Labor
If you have been laid off and have not received your last paycheck, immediate payment may be required by state law (although it is not required by federal law). If your regular payday has passed without payment, contact the DOL’s Wage and Hour Division or your state labor office.
Don’t Ask Employees If They Have Covid-19, and Other HR Tips
Source: Jeff Green, Bloomberg Law
Can I ask an employee if he or she has Covid-19? Can I send a sick worker home and require a doctor’s note to return? Should I worry about staff getting the virus from the mail or a shipping container from China?
Why Workplace Hygiene Should Be More Than Just Hand-Washing
Source: Jill Cowan, New York Times
U.C. Berkeley is one of a rising number of universities that have canceled in-person classes in an effort to slow what experts describe as the largely inevitable spread of the coronavirus.
Large employers across California have taken similar steps, ordering employees to work from home or postpone all but the most vital travel.
Federal workforce now on notice about possible mass telecommuting
Source: Lisa Rein, Stripes
The Trump administration is racing to develop contingency plans that would allow hundreds of thousands of employees to work remotely full time, an extreme scenario to limit the coronavirus that would test whether the government can carry out its mission from home offices and kitchen tables.
Maryland Has Paid Sick Leave. But Is it Enough for Workers Impacted by Coronavirus?
Source: Josh Kurtz, Maryland Matters
As debates rage on Capitol Hill and in statehouses and local governments on how best to protect workers whose livelihoods could be imperiled by the coronavirus, it’s important to remember that Maryland has one thing that most states don’t: Paid sick leave.
Olympia Senior Care Provider to Pay $450,000 to Settle EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Source: EEOC, EEOC
Olympia, Wash.-based Koelsch Senior Communities, as well as The Hampton at Salmon Creek, one of the memory care facilities operated by Koelsch, will pay $450,000 and adopt anti-discrimination policies and training to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today.
Walmart, Starbucks and others face a new coronavirus challenge: Sick workers and fearful customers
Source: Melissa Repko, CNBC
An Uber driver. A Starbucks barista. A Walmart store employee.
Retailers, fast-food chains and customer service-related companies face a new challenge as the coronavirus outbreak spreads in the U.S.: Some of their workers are getting sick.
March 11, 2020
Labor Dept. issues workplace guidelines for coronavirus outbreak
Source: Tracey Porpora, SI Live
The U.S. Department of Labor has issued guidelines for employers to follow if there is an outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the workplace.
Coronavirus sick leave: Walmart, McDonald's, Olive Garden add COVID-19 paid sick leave policies
Source: Jessica Guynn and Kelly Tyko, USA Today
Millions of American workers who don't have paid sick leave could face an impossible choice if they suspect they are infected with coronavirus: their health or their livelihood.
EEOC Votes to Scale Back General Counsel’s Litigation Powers (1)
Source: Paige Smith, Bloomberg Law
EEOC leadership has voted to limit the agency general counsel’s authority to unilaterally decide the kinds of discrimination cases it brings against employers, a move that follows an earlier effort to eliminate those decision-making powers.
High Court’s LGBT Foster Care Case Could Undercut Job Bias Laws
Source: Paige Smith, Bloomberg Law
A U.S. Supreme Court case over a Philadelphia policy that outlaws LGBT discrimination by foster care agencies with city contracts could have sweeping effects on government enforcement of anti-bias laws for the workplace and other sectors, according to some legal observers.
3 Female Executives Reveal Their Experiences With Gender Bias And What They’ve Done To Overcome It
Source: Bonnie Marcus, Forbes
Despite diversity initiatives and unconscious bias training, gender bias is still a major issue for women seeking leadership positions. We can’t discount the influence this bias has on women’s advancement and the ability for women to maintain their status over time.
90% of people are biased against women. That's the challenge we face
Source: Padma Lakshmi, CNN Business
Almost 90% of the world's men, and women, are biased in some way against women, according to the Gender Social Norms Index. Half of men and women feel that men make better political leaders. More than 56% feel that men have more right to a job and/or make better business executives.
As Virus Spreads, Washington Weighs Helping Workers Without Paid Leave
Source: Stephen Miller, SHRM
As the new strain of coronavirus—and the respiratory illness it causes, known as COVID-19—spreads, the government is encouraging employers to be lenient with paid leave benefits for workers who have the disease and others who may be quarantined after exposure to someone with the virus.
March 10, 2020
Lack of paid leave will leave millions of US workers vulnerable to coronavirus
Source: Michael Sainato, The Guardian
Low-wage workers in service industries without proper medical benefits and sick leave will risk getting sick or spreading the virus
MTA allows all transit workers to wear face masks amid coronavirus mania
Source: Clayton Guse, NY Daily News
The MTA has lifted its ban on face masks for its subway workers amid fears the coronavirus will soon infiltrate the public transportation system.
The agency’s Chief People Officer Paul Fama sent a memo to employees on Sunday noting they are allowed to wear face masks on the job amid the outbreak “if they have underlying medical conditions or if this makes them feel more comfortable at this time.”
Amazon won’t dock warehouse workers for missing shifts during coronavirus crisis
Source: Annie Palmer, CNBC
Amazon has relaxed its attendance policy for employees who “work from an office, store, fulfillment center, delivery station or sort center” during the month of March, as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
EEOC says workplace discrimination charges down
Source: Jamie Herzlich, News Day
Workplace harassment has been a hot topic over the past few years.
Subsequently, employers are being held more accountable, which may be contributing in part to a decline in overall workplace discrimination charges, say experts.
March 9, 2020
Coronavirus Panic Is Going Viral—Steps to Take to Protect Your Workplace
Source: Nancy Conrad and Tanya A. Salgado, Law.com
Employers should assess their workplace needs and develop a plan of action in the event of pandemic illness.
Title VII doesn't require threats, poor performance to back up bias claims - 2nd Circuit
Source: Daniel Wiessner, Reuters
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday ruled that workers do not have to show they were physically threatened or that their work performance suffered to prove claims that they were subjected to a hostile work environment and revived a discrimination case against Marriott International Inc.
Can Apps Help Eradicate Sexual Harassment?
Source: Kim Elsesser, Forbes
The #MeToo movement is about giving sexual assault and harassment victims the courage to speak up. And the recent conviction of former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein is an indication that those who speak up will be believed. But, despite these encouraging trends, many still choose to remain silent when it comes to reporting issues like sexual harassment. New apps aimed at empowering victims are hoping to change that.
Pregnancy Employment Discrimination Banned by New Mexico Law
Source: Brenna Goth, Bloomberg Law
Employers can’t discriminate against workers because of pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions under a bill just signed into law in New Mexico.
The law (H.B. 25) makes those conditions a protected class under the state’s Human Rights Act. On Friday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) signed the measure, which takes effect in May, after it received unanimous approval in the legislature.
March 6, 2020
Women still face barriers in the workplace
Source: Bartleby, The Economist
Women have made great strides in the employment market over the past 50 years. But many still feel that their progress is being obstructed and, to coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8th, two new books by feminist writers tackle the issues.
Research: To Reduce Gender Bias, Anonymize Job Applications
Source: Stefanie K. Johnson and Jessica F. Kirk, Harvard Business Review
As the existence of gender, race, and other biases becomes more widely acknowledged, many organizations are “blinding” their talent selection systems. Whether in a hiring process or an application for funding or other opportunities, there is some suggestions that anonymizing details about the applicant — removing their name, for example — leads to the selection of more candidates from underrepresented groups.
Women’s Unpaid Labor is Worth $10,900,000,000,000
Source: Gus Wezerek and Kristen R. Ghodsee, New York Times
If American women earned minimum wage for the unpaid work they do around the house and caring for relatives, they would have made $1.5 trillion last year.
Try These 36 Inexpensive Employee Appreciation Day Ideas
Source: Just Works, Just Works
You work with one of the best teams around, and they work hard for you. But in the midst of all that hard work, it can be easy to forget to show recognition or appreciation.
It’s important to reward employees for a job well done. Recognition makes employees feel appreciated. You're showing someone that their work matters. A little workplace appreciation goes a long way toward boosting employee morale.
March 5, 2020
Porous Materials to Pay $93,000 to Settle EEOC Harassment and Retaliation Suit
Source: EEOC, EEOC
Porous Materials, Inc., an Ithaca, N.Y., manufacturer, will pay $93,000 and furnish other relief to settle a race, sex, and national origin harassment and retaliation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced.
Are Women And Men Being Treated The Same In The Workplace
Source: Dr. Pragya Agarwal, Forbes
As we approach International Women’s Day, it is important to consider whether the status and role of women has changed over the years, to understand the progress that we have made, and the obstacles that still exist for achieving gender equity.
The Challenges Of A Multigenerational Workplace
Source: Rick Gibbs, Forbes
Thanks in part to medical advances and an increased focus on physical and mental wellness, people are living longer, healthier lives. As a result, workers are delaying retirement and staying in the workplace longer, a trend that has helped create a more age-diverse workforce than ever before.
University of Kansas Settles Age Discrimination Suit
Source: Associated Press, US News
The University of Kansas has settled an age discrimination lawsuit brought on behalf of a former employee who said he was ousted in retaliation for raising the alarm that his department was told to fill job openings with mainly young people.
Long-Awaited Sex Harassment Guidance Absent From New EEOC Portal
Source: Paige Smith, Bloomberg Law
A federal civil rights agency recently published an online database of all of its guidance on workplace discrimination issues, but there was one noticeable exception: sexual harassment guidelines that have been on hold by the White House for more than two years.
Former Grammy Chief's New EEOC Complaint Knocks Proskauer Rose
Source: Cheryl Miller, Law.com
The ousted chief executive of the Recording Academy, Deborah Dugan, accused the firm of "handpicking" a Southern California attorney to investigate workplace claims leveled against her before she was fired while the firm simultaneously handled a lawsuit the Recording Academy filed against her.
Fired Recording Academy Chief Deborah Dugan Adds Retaliation Charges To Her EEOC Claims
Source: David Robb, Deadline
Deborah Dugan, the Recording Academy president and CEO who was formally fired Monday by the organization, has added new charges of retaliation and discrimination to the EEOC complaint she filed in January.
March 4, 2020
Bank Workers Unionize for the First Time in 40 Years
Source: Lauren Kaori Gurley, Vice
More than 100 workers at a Tom Steyer-founded bank have won collective bargaining rights in an industry with the lowest unionization rates in the country.
Part-time workers earn 19.8% less per hour than comparable full-time workers
Source: Press Release, Economic Policy Institute
Across demographic groups, even in the same occupation and industry, workers face a stiff pay penalty for working part-time.
As coronavirus spreads, the CDC urges sick workers to stay home — but what if you don’t get paid sick leave?
Source: Meera Jagannathan, Market Watch
Full-time workers are far more likely to have access to paid sick-leave benefits than part-time workers, who are disproportionately women.
March 3, 2020
What Managers Need To Know As Coronavirus Expands Our Remote Workforce
Source: William Arruda, Fast Company
There’s no question that coronavirus is going to accelerate companies’ transition to remote work. The director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is already asking businesses in the U.S. to prepare for "social distancing," including canceling in-person meetings and having employees work from home.
What to Wear to Work
Source: Hallie Crawford, US News
Fashion trends have changed drastically over the past century. And while opinions differ on what is appropriate attire to wear to the grocery store, when traveling or to work, fashion certainly is more relaxed than it used to be.
With so many changes, it can be hard for professionals to decide what to wear to work.
Bias research: Women and other groups at work
Source: Duke University, Psyc Org
Professor Aaron Kay's research examines bias, including gender bias and inequality. His work has illuminated gender bias in people's perceptions of creativity and documented the unintended effects of the "Lean In" call to women, finding that its messages may perpetuate the idea that women are responsible for gender inequality, and the burden rests on them to bridge the gap by changing their own behavior at work.
How the presidential candidates plan to address sexual harassment
Source: Pavthra Mohan, Fast Company
It’s the first presidential election of the #MeToo era. We looked into the candidates’ plans to help protect workers from sexual misconduct and gender discrimination.
March 2, 2020
'A source of tremendous discrimination': Why hair policies matter
Source: Pamela DeLoatch, HR Drive
Companies with policies that restrict employees from wearing natural hair may not have realized the toll that straightening could take, Mishra said.
The Problem With Telling Sick Workers to Stay Home
Source: Amanda Mull, The Atlantic
Even with the coronavirus spreading, lax labor laws and little sick leave mean that many people can’t afford to skip work.
Companies Step Up Efforts to Keep Workers From Quitting
Source: Kathryn Dill, The Wallstreet Journal
Companies are stepping up efforts to retain their talent as a tight labor market increases employees’ job opportunities elsewhere.
Employers have good reason to raise their game.
The Importance Of Creating Community In The Workplace
Source: Dede Henley, Forbes
Is your organization and team operating like a dedicated community? In other words, watching out for one another, caring about what happens together, making sense out of events that happen together? Participating in a community means that people become good citizens.
This Powerful Pair of Bose Headphones Eliminates a Common Workplace Problem
Source: Contributor, Entrepreneur
Noise-canceling headphones have become a workplace essential in recent years, helping both office-goers and remote workers block out external noises and allow them to focus on the workload in front of them. And with many featuring powerful microphones, they’ve also been the device of choice to help enhance the sounds of your colleagues, as well as yourself, during conference calls.
Growing concerns of coronavirus should spur plans — not panic — in the workplace
Source: Julie Appleby, CT Mirror
All workplaces, say corporate benefit and health experts, should have plans that focus on preparation, not fear. Currently, cases of COVID-19 are still rare in the U.S. — far fewer than seasonal influenza cases.
