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.

Upcoming Talks

July 9, City of Industry “HR4U 101 Full-day Workshop" Click here for more information.

 

July 17, West Covina "Critical Human Resources Issues for Business Owners" Click here for more information.

 

AT&T Pays Quarter Million Dollars to Settle EEOC Age Discrimination Suit

Telecommunications giant AT&T will pay $250,000 and furnish other relief to settle an age discrimination suit filed by the EEOC. According to the EEOC's suit, in the fall of 2008, AT&T fired Terry Pierce from its Lee's Summit, Mo., facility because of her age.  Pierce, who had been employed by the company for 16 years as sales coach manager, was 53 years old when AT&T discharged her, while at the same time retaining younger, lower-performing sales coach managers or allowing them to transfer. Such alleged conduct violates the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). 

 

In addition to the monetary relief, the company agreed to redistribute its anti-discrimination policy with a message from its EEO director reaffirming the company's commitment to the policy; provide anti-discrimination training; and report to the EEOC on complaints of age discrimination and terminations of persons over 40.

 

"Age discrimination is a serious problem, especially in times of economic downturn," said Barbara A. Seely, EEOC Regional Attorney.  "Not only do victims of age bias lose their jobs unjustly, they often are unable to find new jobs for the same reason.  The EEOC will defend people's rights to be treated fairly by employers."

 

Worcester County Pays $60,000 to Resolve EEOC Pay Discrimination Lawsuit

Worcester County, Md., will pay $60,000 and furnish significant equitable relief to resolve a pay discrimination lawsuit brought by the EEOC. According to the EEOC's lawsuit, Worcester County Liquor Control Board (LCB) paid Donna Smith, Kylesha Conner and Sharee Dale less wages than male retail clerks, even though they were doing substantially equal work under similar working conditions.  The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA) prohibits discrimination in compensation based on sex.  The EEOC first attempted to reach a pre-litigation settlement before filing suit.

 

In addition to the $60,000 in monetary relief to Smith, Conner and Dale, the three-year consent decree resolving the lawsuit contains important remedial relief, including prohibiting Worcester County from future discrimination on the basis of sex with respect to wages.  The county will offer Dale full-time employment the next time a position becomes available, subject to the recall rights of other employers who may be laid off.  Worcester County will provide training on preventing employment discrimination, with a special emphasis on preventing sex-based pay discrimination.   The county will also report to the EEOC on its handling of all complaints of wage discrimination and post a remedial notice. 

 

"The law requires equal pay for equal work," said EEOC district director.  "The EEOC will take vigorous action to enforce the EPA when an employer fails to pay female employees the equal wages they deserve." 

 

Bank of America $39 Million Settlement for Gender Bias

Bank of America will pay $39 million to settle claims of gender discrimination by women in its Merrill Lynch brokerage operation. The class action lawsuit, filed in March 2010, accused the banking company of favoring male financial officers “with respect to business opportunities, compensation, professional support, and other terms and conditions of employment.” It alleged that women were less likely to be assigned lucrative, career-making clients and to receive promotions, and that those who submitted discrimination complaints were retaliated against. The $39 million will result in 4,800 payouts to women who worked at Bank of America between 2007 and 2013. The company will also bring in an “applied organizational psychologist” to study the gendered reverberations of its policies.

 

If you recall, in last week’s blog I mentioned a racial discrimination lawsuit settlement by B of A agreeing to distribute $160 million among 1,200 black investment advisors—the largest racial bias payout on record.

 

Factoids

Retirement Projections (Fidelity)

• Millennials will be able to cover 62% of their retirement expenses
• Gen Xers, 71% and Baby Boomers 81%

 

Companies planning to offer perks:

• 45% subsidized education or training
• 35% flex work hours or telecommuting
• 33% mentoring programs
• 24% free or subsidized snacks or lunches
• 19% subsidized gym memberships
• 15% matching donations to charitable organizations

 

Quotes

“Quality is everyone's responsibility.”
~W. Edwards Deming~