Quid pro quo comes from Latin and means to exchange one thing for another. While the phrase may be appropriate in a variety of circumstances, it is never appropriate when used in reference to benefits in the workplace. Quid pro quo sexual harassment is when an employer…
It’s been more than two years since the pandemic forced millions of Americans to work from home. Today, many, if not most, Bay Area workplaces are back open, but many employees are still working remotely. They discovered that they preferred the convenience of working from home and…
Inconsistencies have surfaced in the way the California State University investigates and resolves sexual harassment cases at its more than 20 campuses. As a result, state lawmakers have requested an independent audit in how the university system deals with such cases. These findings were disclosed in a…
Women make up the backbone of healthcare around the world, and the Bay Area is no exception. An estimated 90 percent of nurses, and 70 percent of healthcare workers overall, are female. Yet the women who work hard every day to keep the rest of us healthy…
Victims of sexual harassment often don’t come forward right away. When they do finally report their harassment, a lot of armchair pundits are inclined to ask, “Well, why didn’t they speak up sooner?” There are a lot of reasons. Chief among them are: Humiliation and shame: When…
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) handed down a landmark ruling that many say is a bigger benefit to LGBTQ people than the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that granted same-sex couples marriage equality. In a 6-3 decision, the Court ruled that firing someone who is…
Have you been working from home lately? If so, like many other companies in this nation, your employer may be rapidly making adjustments to the way that they do business, particularly when it comes to holding conferences and meetings. They may also have quickly set up an…
One of the most frequently suggested solutions to the problem of sexual harassment in the workplace is to move more women into positions of authority. As supervisors, managers and executives, women might be in a better position to move a company’s culture in a direction that won’t…
Former Senator Tony Mendoza may have resigned his position in 2018 after a flurry of accusations involving sexual harassment, but his unfortunate legacy is still hanging over California. Another six-figure settlement has been made related to the senator — but it’s the taxpayers who have to pick…
One of the reasons that sexual harassers thrive in the workplace is that there’s never been any particular effort to track them. Indeed, since many employers are reluctant to admit that sexual harassment occurred behind their doors, many harassers can quietly move on to other positions in…
