In This Chapter:
WORKPLACE HARASSMENT – WHY IT MATTERS -
II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKPLACE HARASSMENT IN THE UNITED STATES SUPREME
COURT -
III. HARASSMENT LAW IN THE FIFTH CIRCUIT AND TEXAS -
A. Sexual Harassment -
1. Severe or Pervasive? -
2. Ellerth Defense -
B. Same-Sex Harassment -
1. Fifth Circuit -
2. Texas -
C. Race and National Origin Harassment -
1. Fifth Circuit -
2. Texas -
D. Religious Harassment -
1. Fifth Circuit -
2. Texas -
E. Disability Harassment -
1. Fifth Circuit -
2. Texas -
F. Age Harassment -
1. Fifth Circuit -
2. Texas -
G. USERRA Harassment -
IV. ADOPTING A HARASSMENT POLICY -
V. WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS -
A. Why Investigate -
B. Components of the Investigation -
1. Promptness -
2. Thoroughness -
3. Action Taken -
4. Follow Up -
C. Conducting the Investigation -
1. Who Will Conduct -
2. Timing and Order -
3. Objectives of the Investigation -
4. Identify Other Resources Needed -
5. Assemble Important Documentation -
D. Launching the Investigation -
1. Review Policies and Procedures -
2. Analyze Relevant Documents -
3. Decide Who, When & Where -
4. General Questioning -
E. Dealing with Resistance -
1. Individual Representation of Employees -
2. Representation of the Accused -
3. Representation of the Complaining Party -
F. Interview Complaining Party -
1. Questions -
G. Interview Alleged Offender -
1. Questions -
2. Discuss Process -
Harassment in the Workplace: Dangerous Liaisons Chapter7
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3. Beware of Liability for “Sex Stereotyping” -
H. Interview Witnesses -
1. Determine Who to Interview-
2. Questions -
3. Confidentiality Importance -
4. Retaliation -
I. Making a Determination -
VI. TAKING ACTION -
A. Recommend Action -
B. Courts are Requiring More from Employers -
1. EEOC v. Central Wholesalers, Inc., 573 F.3d 167 (4th Cir. 2009) -
C. Importance of Documentation -
1. Be Cautious about Wording -
2. Investigation Report -
D. Follow-Up -
VII. UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF WORKPLACE INVESTIGATIONS: DISQUALIFICATION OF COUNSEL AND LOSS OF PRIVILEGES -
A. Disqualification of Counsel -
1. Disqualification of Counsel under Texas Law -
2. The Fifth Circuit Approach to Disqualification of Counsel -
B. Maintaining the Privilege -
VIII. CONCLUSION -
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION -
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