Here is the latest issue of “This & That” Tuesday. I hope you find it to be informative and useful.

 

Announcements

You can always check out my website for upcoming speaking engagements that are guaranteed to be of value to business owners or for a list of topics that I can speak on at Chambers, Clubs, Business Associations, etc. More details about the events, topics and Human Resources 4U, in general, can be found on my website.

 

November 19, “Human Resources Issues for Business Owners” hosted by Simjee Periodontics and Cool Smiles Orthodontics.

 

 

Full Day Workshop on January 16: Start the new year on the right “employment law” foot! Click on HR4U 101 Workshop for more details.

 

Female Deputy Denied Promotion over Politics Wins $1M

A female deputy in Illinois who claims she was passed up for promotion because of politics has won a $1 million jury award against the county. Susan Lakics, who had worked for the DuPage County sheriff’s office for 16 years, claimed that Sheriff John Zaruba promoted less qualified candidates who scored lower than her on the sergeant’s test. She sued the county, claiming sex discrimination and political retaliation.

 

The jury rejected her claim of gender bias but agreed that she was denied a promotion because of a political feud between her husband Steve, a former mayor, and her boss Zaruba. The two men, both Republicans, disagreed over a program for youth offenders in West Chicago, where Steve was mayor. After the dispute, Susan no longer supported Zaruba politically but continued to work as a deputy and seek promotion.

 

She also claimed in her lawsuit that after the political feud, Zaruba downgraded her job performance reviews, which are used for deciding who gets promoted.

 

Zaruba testified that he didn’t remember why he didn’t promote Lakics but that promotions went to those “best qualified by their skills, knowledge and ability to take whatever sergeant position” is open.

 

But a 2011 news investigation found that deputies who donated time or money to Zaruba’s political campaign were more likely to be promoted, and if they were disciplined they faced lighter punishment.

 

Flint Schools Settle Teacher's Sexual Harassment Lawsuit for $600,000

Flint Michigan schools have agreed to a $600,000 settlement in a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against a former district principal by a teacher, according to the attorney that filed the case.

 

The plaintiff (Caudell) claimed former Northwestern High principal began harassing the then-probationary teacher after she ended a sexual relationship with him.

 

"Both parties in this case agreed to settle this matter for an amount determined through a court process called case evaluation," Flint school spokesperson said. "Flint Community Schools is pleased that this matter could be resolved without going to trial."

 

The principal began pulling Caudell out of her classroom during the school day, come to her home, follow her and ask other teachers about her personal life. The principal allegedly threatened to fire Caudell if she did not go along with his romantic advances. Caudell is currently on sick leave due to a failed November 2011 suicide attempt.

 

In October 2010, the principal was placed on administrative leave with the district pending an investigation into a complaint made by another staff member.  The district declined to provide further information on the nature of the complaint at the time.

 

The principal had been suspended once before in October 2009 after a student made accusations that the principal choked him at school, but he returned to work after the district cleared him of wrongdoing.

 

Factoids

• The average contribution rate for Defined Contribution plans was 7.3% in 2012 (was 7.2% in 2011)
• 72.5% of participants saved at or above the company’s match level in 2012 (was 71.3% in 2011)
• With automatic enrollment, 81.4% of employees joined the plan, without automatic enrollment only 63.5% joined.

• 19.6% of adults aged 26-64 are uninsured (was 15% in 2008)
• 23.7% of adults aged 18-25 are uninsured (was 15% in 2008)

 

Quotes

“I tried to think but nothing happened!”

~Curly~