HRBlunders.com » sexual harassment

Was employee fired for catching co-workers in a compromising situation?

Fred Hosier — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:00:10 +0000

A former restaurant manager has filed a lawsuit, claiming she was fired for what she saw other managers doing in the facility’s banquet room one night.

Deborah Smith was manager of the restaurant at the Hilton Minneapolis. In her lawsuit, Smith alleges that one night she walked into the banquet room to find the hotel’s upper management having an orgy.

She claims that, after complaining about the orgy, “a campaign of harassment and retaliation ensued against her,” according to the Pioneer Press.

The suit states that, as the night manager of SkyWater restaurant, Smith was praised for her performance, received raises and trained other employees.

But on the night she allegedly found the orgy, the suit claims the hotel’s beverage manager told her “she would be fired, and he would make sure of it.”

Smith says she complained to HR but didn’t get any help.

Smith is accusing the hotel of sex discrimination and sexual harassment. She also claims she was retaliated against because she complained.

The suit doesn’t name a dollar figure, but says Smith lost in excess of $50,000 and is seeking punitive damages as well.

Fired principal blew last chance

Fred Hosier — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:00:49 +0000

A school board in Georgia fired a high school principal after he violated the terms of a “last chance” letter he received in July. The principal’s last offense: He supposedly suggested a school social worker wear a dress and stilettos to a presentation.

The Cobb County school board fired principal Lawrence Bynum, going beyond the recommendations of the district superintendent and a panel of educators who heard testimony on sexual harassment allegations, according to The Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

The superintendent had recommended a suspension and demotion.

During the previous summer, Bynum was promoted from middle school principal to high school principal.

It turns out, during that time, he was under investigation regarding allegations against him at his former school.

That investigation concluded Bynum had created a hostile work environment for some employees at the middle school.

Bynum has retained a lawyer, who says the district “threw away a jewel when they got rid of him. He didn’t do any of that talking.”

Will you wear short shorts for a good cause?

Fred Hosier — Mon, 19 May 2008 10:00:31 +0000

Innocent question or sexual harassment? Find out how the court ruled in a case that took some of the fun out of fundraising.

A Virginia Polytechnic Institute coach asked a co-worker if she’d pose in a swimsuit or short shorts for a promotional calendar that would benefit a nonprofit youth boxing organization.

The coach assured the female co-worker that the photos would be “in good taste,” but the woman refused to be photographed – and promptly filed a sexual harassment complaint against the would-be photographer, who got fired.

The coach argued he didn’t violate the policy because he didn’t make a sexual advance, request a sexual favor or engage in any other sexual conduct. He took his case to court.

The court agreed with him, saying the request may be considered annoying and inappropriate, but it wasn’t sexual harassment.

Given the fact that this is HR Blunders’ second story in less than a month regarding these pin-up calendars for fundraising, you have to wonder whether they’re worth it because of all the fuss.