Can I get written up for telling an employee what someone said about her in the break room?
Rita Risser Chai replies: It depends on what they said. If someone said something about her that was harassing or discriminatory based on her [...]
About Rita M. Risser Chai
Rita M. Risser Chai was an attorney in California for 20 years and now is an attorney in Hawaii. She authored the Prentice Hall book, Stay Out of Court! The Manager’s Guide to Preventing Employee Lawsuits, and she developed most of the curriculum used by Fair Measures including the firm’s first website which was praised in HR Magazine. She also wrote numerous articles on employment law including one on best practice harassment prevention training published in the magazine of the American Society for Training and Development (now ATD). She taught Law and Human Resources at the University of California, Santa Cruz, for eight years, and has presented four times at the annual conventions of the Hawaii Society of Human Resource Management.Employer Not Liable for Sexual Harassment After Taking “Reasonable” Action
You know that employers are not liable for harassment if they take all steps necessary to prevent harassment and respond to complaints. A new [...]
We want to write a book about our employer—do we have to fictionalize it?
I and my colleagues are transitioning out of the workforce. We are interested in writing a book about our Affirmative Action, EEO, Diversity and [...]
Can a person on FMLA be fired for going to a hair salon?
Can a person on approved FMLA for depression and anxiety be discharged for calling in FMLA on a 6am-2pm shift and being filmed going [...]
Can they deny me vacation and force me to go to an employee appreciation day?
I have requested a vacation day on a day where our company is having an employee appreciation day at a restaurant. Can they deny [...]
What is the best way to deal with a workplace bully?
Our company has a policy against bullying in the workplace, part of our overall Professional Conduct policy. Do you advise bringing it to HR [...]
Can my employer prohibit me from disclosing my personal health information to my supervisor or coworkers?
We just received a memo stating that all employees are prohibited from sharing and/or discussing our medical records with anyone other than HR, which [...]
Can I provide specific payroll amounts and names for employees to board members?
I am the Finance Director of a non-profit with fewer than 100 employees and have been asked to provide this information. Rita Risser Chai [...]
How Far Back Can Harassment Claims Go? Ask Microsoft
With celebrity #MeToo complaints going back 30 years, and Bill Cosby being tried for an assault 14 years ago, managers may be wondering how [...]
What can I do if my employer calls me a F-ing Bitch in front of another employee?
Rita Risser Chai replies: If your company has a policy that employees should be treated with respect, this clearly violates that policy. However, if [...]