Friday, April 27, 2007

Morgan Stanley Settles Sex Harassment Lawsuit

Morgan Stanley, the world's second-biggest securities firm has agreed to set up a $46 million claims pool to settle a sex discrimination lawsuit.

Six women, who were former Morgan Stanley financial advisers filed the lawsuit, claiming Morgan Stanley discriminated against them and more than 3,000 current and former advisers since August 2003. They were paid less than men and had fewer promotion opportunities.

Morgan Stanley agreed to increase earnings for female advisers by at least $16 million over five years. The firm also agreed to change training and management-development programs in wealth- management division.


This settlement marks the ninth largest in a US gender bias class-action case.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

N.H. Senate Approves Minimum Wage Hike

N.H. Senate voted Thursday to raise New Hampshire's minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour in the next two years.

The bill passed 19-5 in the senate and has sent to Gov. John Lynch for his signature.


The bill would increase the current minimum wage $5.15 per hour to $6.50 this September and to $7.25 next year.

The current minimum wage in New Hampshire is as the same as the federal rate. The increase will be the first time of last 10 years.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Chinese Restaurant Agrees to Pay $41,661 in back wages

China Star Buffet management, a Chinese restaurant based in Bonita Springs has agreed to pay $41,661 in back wages to 24 employees.

The restaurant was accused uncovered violations of minimum wage, overtime and record keeping provisions. Three other Chinese restaurants in Miami and Royal Palm Beach were also under investigation.


Connie Klipsch, a regional administrator for the federal agency said, "This administration is vigorously enforcing the federal minimum wage and overtime laws to ensure that workers are paid the wages they have earned."

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

FedEx Settles Sex Harassment Lawsuit

FedEx Corp., the world's largest air-cargo carrier, has agreed to pay $3 million to a former worker to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Charlotte Boswell, who worked in the company's Oakland dispatch center for a nearly 12-year filed the case, claiming she was subject to inappropriately kissing and hugging by a FedEx supervisor.

Boswell was awarded $550,000 for lost wages as well as pain and suffering and $2.45 million in punitive damages.

Fedex plans to appeal the Boswell verdict.

Lawmakers send minimum wage bill to governor

General Assembly sent a bill that ties Indiana's minimum wage to the federal minimum wage increase to Governor Mitch Daniels.


The Indiana House voted 75-22 Tuesday to approve Senate amendments to the bill.


The bill would likely to increase Indiana's state minimum wage from the current $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over the next two years.


The U.S. House already has voted to boost the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.

The minimum wage in Indiana has not increased for a decade.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Gas Station Chain Agreed to Pay $1 Million in Back Wages

Chestnut Petroleum Dist., Inc. has agreed to pay $900,000 in back wages to 767 employees and a $100,000 penalty to the federal government to resolve violations of FLSA overtime requirements.

The company is accused of paying employees less than the federal minimum wage and failing to pay the workers proper overtime rates.

The labor department also found that the employers failed to keep required records showing hours worked each day; total hours worked weekly and pay rates for many workers.


The 100-thousand dollar civil penalty "will be used as further incentive to properly compensate workers from now on," U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao said.

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Georgia Pacific Sued Over Sexual Harassment

EEOC filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Georgia Pacific.

A former female employee complained that the company fostered a hostile work environment against her, and she was sexually harassed and threatened from 2001 to 2005.


From the comment Georgia Pacific released, the company denied the allegations.

EEOC Filed Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Fleming's

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar over sexual harassment.

On behalf of John Pilkington and other male employees, EEOC filed the suit, claiming they were "suffered demeaning touching of intimate body parts as well as unwelcome sexual comments."


The restaurant fired John Pilkington after he made the complaints.