Political Correctness at Work: How Much Is Too Much?
With a growing focus on unconscious bias, micro-aggression and bullying, and employees who are becoming sensitive to the slightest provocation, many employers are uncertain about how far they must go to police the words and actions of employees at work. This session will address the following questions:
- Must you go beyond current policies against discrimination and harassment in addressing employee complaints of offensive co-worker conduct?
- What should you do in response to employee complaints of harassment that are not tied to protected classifications?
- Should you implement and enforce policies against bullying, and how should bullying be defined for the workplace?
- How should you balance your employees' competing sensitivities?
James J. McDonald
James J. McDonald, Jr. is a partner in the Irvine, California and Tampa, Florida offices of Fisher & Phillips LLP, where he is a litigator, trial lawyer and strategic advisor to employers regarding labor and employment law matters. He is author of the SHRM-published book, California Employment Law: An Employer’s Guide, and he is a frequent speaker on employment law issues. He is a cum laude law graduate of Georgetown University and a member of the California and Florida Bars, and he holds the SHRM-SCP certification.