Total Articles: 4
Worker's Failure to Report New Incidents of Harassment Proves Costly
A federal appellate court has ruled that an employer should not be held liable for fostering a racially hostile work environment in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. According to the court, the company promptly disciplined the workers for their initial misconduct and the employee did not adequately report the alleged resumption of the harassment. The worker's failure to put the company on notice of the renewed harassment, the court found, was "fatal to his claim of employer liability." Wilson v. Moulison North Corp., No. 10-1387, First Circuit Court of Appeals (March 21, 2011).
Worker's Lack Of Response Dooms Harassment Suit
A federal appellate court recently dismissed a lawsuit brought by an employee who claimed that her employer subjected her to a hostile work environment. While the employer exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct the alleged harassment, the court held, the employee failed to take advantage of the corrective opportunities offered by the employer. Brenneman v. Famous Dave's of America, Inc., No. 06-1851, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (November 16, 2007).
Employee's Sexual Harassment Claim Fails.
The federal appellate court with
jurisdiction over Texas recently ruled
against an employee who complained
to her supervisor that she was being
harassed by a co-worker. According
to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals,
the employee failed to follow the company’s
handbook which required the
employee to report the harassment to
human resources (HR) if a report to her
supervisor proved ineffective.
Title VII Update: Court Validates Comprehensive Anti-Harassment Policy and "Swift and Effective" Response.
Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an
employer may be liable for sexual harassment by a
supervisor with authority over the victimized employee.
When no tangible employment action against the
employee is involved, the employer may raise an
affirmative defense to liability that (a) the employer
exercised reasonable care to prevent and promptly correct
any sexually harassing behavior, and (b) the employee
unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventive
or corrective opportunities provided by the employer.
