Getting involved with employees’ sex lives, moving the goal posts on promotion requests, racial and religious and disability discrimination: These are the real-life American horror stories that have pervaded the headlines of HR Dive’s compliance section this year.
The alleged villains in these stories face accusations of violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and more.
The following stories don’t need blood and gore for shock value, as the impact of sexual harassment, ongoing discrimination, and the psychological damage of racial trauma are weighty enough.
In one instance, a discount store came under fire this year for a quid pro quo sexual favor scheduling scheme. Also over the summer: A Maryland retirement community had to pay $85,000 to settle an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit alleging it refused to promote a Black worker because she lacked a bachelor’s degree — but denied a promotion again once she had attained it.
Equally horrifying: A financial consulting company’s punishing anti-premarital sex policy entered the news this summer when a former worker was allowed to proceed with allegations of religious discrimination after she was allegedly fired for becoming pregnant out of wedlock.
For HR pros who are concerned about compliance, here are 10 scary employment law violations you’ll want to avoid at every turn.
