Market Areas > Human Resources > Discrimination

Discriminate, Retaliate: How to Avoid this Costly Nightmare

Course Description:

Job discrimination complaints filed by workers against employers shot up 9 percent last year.  That’s the biggest annual increase since the early 1990s. Allegations of discrimination based on race, retaliation and sex were the most frequent, with retaliation up 18 percent to a record high.

Most managers know it’s illegal to discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, age, sex, disability, and religion.  But they’re not always clear on what actions are not permitted under these laws.  Discrimination can create serious legal and practical workplace problems — costly lawsuits, loss of employee morale, erosion of your company's public image and a decline in productivity.

Let’s not forget about your company's bottom line. Damage awards in employment litigation have skyrocketed.  In 2007, the EEOC recovered $345 million in compensation for those who had files discrimination charges.  And an additional $90 million was the direct cost of judgments levied for unlawful retaliation. 

Join CCM and our expert faculty to learn how your organization can prevent and effectively respond to discrimination and retaliation claims.  In just 75 minutes, our legal expert will present step-by-step facts and action plans for policy development, employee training, as well as state and federal compliance advice.  You’ll also learn:

• What is considered a discriminatory act
• How to prevent managers from engaging in discrimination – consciously or unconsciously
• What is a retaliation claim
• Why retaliation claims are more difficult to defend than other employment discrimination claims
• What not to say to an employee who has engaged in a protected activity
• How to manage the employee who attempts to prevent further disciplinary action or termination by making a protected complaint
• When is an employee suffering a “materially adverse action”
• How to create a written anti-retaliation policy that stands up in court
• Strategies that stop the behaviors that often land organizations in court
• What the key EEOC guidelines say about retaliation prevention
• How the Supreme Court’s June 22, 2006 retaliation decision effects your organization’s ability to fight retaliation
• How to handle an employee once a retaliation has been filed
• What’s considered “protected behavior” for employees and how to handle it

Featured Faculty:

Jewelle Johnson, Partner, Fisher & Phillips LLP, Atlanta office

Jewelle Johnson is a partner in the Atlanta office. She has successfully defended numerous companies against employment discrimination claims arising under Title VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act in both state and federal courts. Ms. Johnson advises clients on preventative measures aimed at reducing employment-related claims and provides management and employee training on such topics as diversity, discrimination and harassment, wage and hour laws, and discipline and discharge. Jewelle was named as one of the "Top 25 Power Women to Watch in 2006" by Atlanta Woman magazine and was selected for two consecutive years (2005-2006) as one of "Georgia's Rising Star Super Lawyers" by Atlanta and Law & Politics magazines. In 2006, Jewelle was also one of 14 attorneys selected as one of the Daily Report's young lawyers "On the Rise." Court Admissions

Terri Stewart, Associate, Fisher & Phillips LLP, Atlanta office

Terri Stewart is an associate in the Atlanta office. She practices in all areas of labor and employment law. While attending law school, Terri received special recognition for her academic and charitable contributions to the practice of law from the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and became a life-long member of the Blue Key Honor Society. Terri served as Articles Editor of the Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law.

MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE:

We're so confident you'll get what you want out of this conference that we'll refund every penny if you're not completely satisfied. No questions asked! It's 100% risk-free!

Pricing:

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Your CD recording includes the complete audio conference presentation, audience Q&A and presentation materials.

APPROVED FOR RECERTIFICATION CREDIT:

HRCI - Receive 1.5 recertification credit hours toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). For more information about certification or recertification, please visit the HRCI homepage at www.hrci.org.

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