Preventing Workplace Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation

1. Timing....................................................................................................................................................32 2. Employer Knowledge.............................................................................................................................32 D. Other Anti-Retaliation Laws .........................................................................................................................33 1. Constitutional Free Speech Rights .........................................................................................................33 2. Whistleblower Statutes...........................................................................................................................34 3. Working Conditions ...............................................................................................................................37 4. Union Activities .....................................................................................................................................38

S ECTION 8 Preventing Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation ............................................................................................39

S ECTION 9 Anti-Discrimination Laws Do Not Immunize Employees from Discipline When Warranted ....................................42 A. Treat All Similarly Situated Employees the Same ........................................................................................42 B. Performance Evaluations...............................................................................................................................42 C. Discipline ......................................................................................................................................................43 S ECTION 10 Developing an Anti-Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation Policy...................................................................44 A. Contents of the Policy ...................................................................................................................................44 B. Disseminating the Policy...............................................................................................................................46 C. Documenting and Tracking Complaints........................................................................................................46 S ECTION 11 Training Employees to Prevent Harassment, Discrimination, Retaliation and Abusive Conduct ...............................47 A. Supervisory and Nonsupervisory Employee Training...................................................................................47 1. AB 1825 Supervisor Harassment Prevention Training ..........................................................................47 2. SB 1343 Expansion of Harassment Prevention Training .......................................................................48 B. Other Training ...............................................................................................................................................49 1. Peace Officers ........................................................................................................................................49 2. Local Agency Officials ..........................................................................................................................49 S ECTION 12 Investigating Allegations of Harassment, Discrimination, or Retaliation ...................................................................50 A. Appoint an Investigator .................................................................................................................................51 B. Keep the Investigation Confidential ..............................................................................................................51 C. Right of Representation.................................................................................................................................52 D. Lybarger Admonitions ..................................................................................................................................52 E. Discriminatory Investigations .......................................................................................................................52

S ECTION 13 Determining the Appropriate Remedy for Findings of Harassment, Discrimination, or Retaliation...........................53

S ECTION 14 Internal Administrative Remedies ...............................................................................................................................55

S ECTION 15 Exhaustion of EEOC and DFEH Administrative Remedies and Applicable Statute of Limitations ...........................56 A. EEOC Administrative Remedies ...................................................................................................................56 B. DFEH Administrative Remedies ...................................................................................................................58

S ECTION 16 Liability for Money Damages......................................................................................................................................58

Preventing Workplace Harassment, Discrimination, and Retaliation ©2019 (s) Liebert Cassidy Whitmore v