Finding the Facts - Disciplinary and Harassment Investigation

E NDNOTES

1 Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, §§ 4600, et seq.; Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, §§ 59300, et seq. 2 This workbook addresses proper investigation of employee misconduct. However, we note that many of the investigation techniques and legal obligations discussed are applicable to investigations of student misconduct. 3 Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, § 4631 (local agency decision due within 60 days from receipt of certain complaints filed under a uniform complaint procedure); Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, § 59336 (community college administrative decision due within 90 days of filing of Title 5 unlawful discrimination complaint). 4 Gov. Code, § 12900 et seq . 5 Gov. Code, § 12940, subd. (k). (Proposed Legislation) Only employers have the duty to prevent discrimination, including harassment. Therefore, individual supervisors cannot be held personally liable for failing to investigate or otherwise failing to stop harassment. Fiol v. Doellstedt (1996) 50 Cal.App.4th 1318 [58 Cal.Rptr.2d 308], review den. 6 The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") is the agency responsible for enforcing the provisions of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the ADEA and the ADA, prohibiting discrimination, including harassment, in the workplace. 7 EEOC: Policy Guidance on Sexual Harassment, 8 FEP Case. Manual (BNA), at 405:6685, n. 7, 405:6699, Section E (1990). 8 Weger v. City of Ladue (8th Cir. 2007) 500 F.3d 710; Nichols v. Azteca Restaurant Enterprises, Inc. (9th Cir. 2001) 256 F.3d 864; Fuller v. City of Oakland, Cal. (9th Cir. 1995) 47 F.3d 1522, as amended. 9 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Charge Statistics for fiscal years 1997 through 2016 can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/statistics/enforcement/charges.cfm. 10 U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Litigation Statistics for fiscal years 1997 through 2016 can be found at http://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/statistics/enforcement/litigation.cfm. 11 EEOC: Policy Guidance on Sexual Harassment , 8 FEP Cas. Manual (BNA), at 405:6699, Section E (2)(1990). Contra: Hardage v. CBS Broadcasting, Inc. (9th Cir. 2005) 427 F.3d 1177, amended on den. of rehg. (9th Cir. 2006) 433 F.3d 672 and (9th Cir. 2006) 436 F.3d 1050. 12 Van Zant v. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (2d Cir. 1996) 80 F.3d 708, 715. 13 Varner v. National Super Markets, Inc. (8th Cir. 1996) 94 F.3d 1209, 1213, cert. den. by 519 U.S. 1110 [117 S.Ct. 946]. 14 Waymire v. Harris County, Tex. (5th Cir. 1996) 86 F.3d 424. 15 Weger v. City of Ladue (8th Cir. 2007) 500 F.3d 710, rehg. and rehg. en banc den. 16 Carmon v. Lubrizol Corp. (5th Cir. 1994) 17 F.3d 791. 17 Steiner v. Showboat Operating Co. (9th Cir. 1994) 25 F.3d 1459, cert. den. (1995) 513 U.S. 1082 [115 S.Ct. 733]. 18 Cal. Code Regs., tit. 5, § 4600,-4633. 19 Department of Fair Employment & Housing v. Lyddan Law Group and Jeffrey Lyddan (Oct. 19, 2010) FEHC Dec. No. 10-04- P. 20 California Department of Fair Employment and Housing Workplace Harassment Guide for California Employers (May 2, 2017), p. 4. 21 Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 11023. 22 Cal. Code Regs., tit. 2, § 11023, subd. (b).

Disciplinary and Harassment Investigations ©2019 (e) Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 171