EEOC Favors Workplace Discrimination Mediation and Other Conciliatory Methods to Resolve Disputes
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Workplace discrimination—whether related to age, sex or race—is a common problem in American workplaces and one that should be quickly resolved to avoid loss of productivity. According to recent reports released by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), workplace discrimination mediation has proven to be one of the most reliable and cost-effective methods for dealing with this problem efficiently and effectively, allowing companies and departments to get back to business as usual in a competitive market and challenging economic climate.
In a press release published at the beginning of the year, the EEOC announced a reported 99,412 charges related to private sector workplace discrimination during the prior year. Year-end data released for 2013 is expected to show similar numbers. While workplace discrimination is shown to be on the decline, it is still a major concern that affects productivity and brand image for many businesses. This decline is likely due to a greater awareness of the definition of workplace discrimination and how such practices can affect a business’s short-term and long-term goals.
In 2012, of the nearly 100,000 workplace discrimination cases reported, 37,836 were related to retaliation; 33,512 were related to race; and 30,356 were related to sex discrimination, including cases involving the alleged use of sexual harassment and discrimination related to pregnancy. However, it is important to realize that regardless of the reason workplace discrimination happens, such activity can decrease employee morale and set a negative tone for one’s working environment.
According to the EEOC’s own reports, the commission is placing a continued importance on conciliatory approaches to resolving workplace conflict, especially conflict that stems from discrimination. During 2012 alone, almost $36.2 million was secured for victims of unlawful workplace discrimination through alternative dispute resolution methods such as workplace discrimination mediation. Such payouts serve to assist victims in moving beyond the damaging psychological effects workplace discrimination can elicit; they also provide a solid incentive for companies to educate their managers on what workplace discrimination is and how it can be avoided.
December 30, 2013
5 Tips to Celebrating Your First Holidays After a Divorce – The first holiday season after a divorce or separation can place tremendous emotional strain on the best of us. Now that you and your ex have parted ways, the holiday parties and family gatherings you have been celebrating for years as a couple suddenly seem daunting and complicated. Who gets to go to which parties? How do you “share custody” of friendships? What do you say when someone asks why your better half is no longer at your side? It’s enough to make an already emotionally fraught season barely tolerable.
Wells Fargo to pay $591 million to Fannie Mae in mortgage settlement – Wells Fargo & Co. said Monday it has agreed to pay $591 million to Fannie Mae to settle disputes over soured mortgages the bank sold to the seized housing finance giant during the subprime housing boom.
RealtyTrac: Foreclosures still bringing down value of residential properties – Foreclosures hurt more than just those families who’ve lost their homes. They drag down the value of housing in entire neighborhoods.
November 28, 2013
Preparation is the Foundation for Achieving Settlement in Mediation – Mediation is becoming a “must” in many states prior to a judge hearing a case. While it may not be a written statute or rule, it is a preferred practice, especially in civil cases. Having the opportunity to achieve settlement of a dispute without the time, expense and unpredictability of a trial takes an effort, but when properly planned for can allow both parties to feel that a fair resolution has been accomplished.
Mortgage tab may cost banks $105B more – Bank costs are still piling up from legal actions involving mortgages and mortgage securities issued during the years just before the U.S. financial crisis.
Freddie Mac: Mortgage rates rise; 30-year fixed averages 4.29% – A nervous mortgage market drove interest rates higher this week ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, with the average for a 30-year fixed-rate loan rising to 4.29% from 4.22% a week earlier, Freddie Mac said.
November 14, 2013
Average 30-year mortgage rate jumps to 4.35% – Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose for the second straight week amid some signs of economic strength. Still rates remain near historically low levels.
Foreclosures Climbed In October – U.S. foreclosures in October were up 2% from the month prior, according to a new report from RealtyTrac.
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James C. Bruno
Automotive Accident Mediation: A Solution Everyone Can Live With
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When an automobile accident happens, the first steps many people take are call the police, call the insurance company, and then call a lawyer. However, automotive accident mediation, one of the best steps that can be taken after the police and one’s insurance company have been called, is often left out of the picture—costing accident victims more time and money than they wanted to spend on something that wasn’t supposed to occur in the first place.
With automotive accident mediation, a third-party, non-biased mediator can assist all parties involved with making sure that a fair settlement is reached, whether the insurance company is involved or not. With an automobile accident, injuries that have occurred could present problems down the road that might not be considered in the immediate present, causing long-term financial insecurity for people who could have prevented it through mediation.
Regardless of whether you and the other vehicles/people involved in the accident are insured, and regardless of whose fault the accident seems to be, calling an automotive accident mediator is always a good step to consider after contacting the police and one’s insurance company. An automotive accident mediator will be able to direct all parties to the proper channels for claims and claims dispute resolution, saving everyone time and money in the process.
Litigating an automobile accident injury claim can require more money and time than it is worth, but mediating such a dispute is often hassle-free and cost-effective, with equally satisfactory results. The confidential nature of automobile accident mediation also ensures that your claim will be dealt with privately and confidentially so that everyone involved can move on with their lives with a resolution that has been mutually determined.