Assignment 1
The purpose of this assignment is to define sexual harassment in the workplace and its negative effect on employees and the business, to analyze the requirements for a sexual harassment claim, to develop methods that a business can adopt to reduce or eliminate sexual harassment claims and litigation, and to assess liability based on the form of business entity.
Read the following scenario.
High-profile sexual harassment scandals, such as allegations against Bill Cosby, Harvey Weinstein of the Weinstein Company, and Bill O'Reilly and Roger Aisles of Fox News, are changing the landscape of workplace sexual harassment claims and litigation.
Conduct a discussion in the team forum with your Learning Team members regarding sexual harassment as a growing ethical and legal concern for businesses today. Each Learning Team member must address each topic. It would be nice if everyone could participate at the same time for 45 minutes to one hour, but students who cannot make themselves available at the time of the conference should contribute substantial messages to the discussion as soon as possible after a conference among other team members has taken place. The topics are as follows:
• Define sexual harassment and discuss applicable law (such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964). How does the state law in your state address sexual harassment?
• Discuss a recent sexual harassment claim in the news and whether media coverage is beneficial or detrimental to reporting and reducing sexual harassment claims in the workplace. Should sexual harassment claims be addressed publicly or handled privately?
• Explain the ethical and legal considerations of a business protecting its employees (the accuser, the accused, and other employees in the company) while a workplace sexual harassment investigation is underway. Does your answer change if the allegation is a widely known scandal-making front page news?
• Compare the sexual harassment liability of a business entity that is a sole proprietorship with an entity that is a corporation.
• Recommend risk management procedures a business can implement to avoid or reduce sexual harassment claims from occurring in the workplace.
Summarize your discussions and individual contributions in a 350-word roundtable summary.
Assignment 2
The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate different types of employment relationships and potential discriminatory employment policies from an ethical standpoint.
Read the following scenario.
Janice was hired by Dream Massage to be a massage therapist. She is engaged as an independent contractor and, therefore, receives no tax withholding or employment benefits. Dream Massage requires Janice to work a set schedule, provides her with clients and all her massage products, and exercises complete control over how Janice does her work. In addition, when Janice shows up to work the first day, she is informed by Dream Massage that she cannot wear her hijab as it violates the company's dress code policy.
The owner of Dream Massage comes to you, a human resources (HR) consultant, to find out if Janice is properly classified as an independent contractor and if there is potential liability concerning the hijab.
Create a 700- to 1,050-word HR report for Dream Massage in which you examine the employment issues presented in the scenario.
Include the following:
• Analyze whether Janice qualifies as an employee or should be classified as an independent contractor.
• Discuss whether Dream Massage has potentially violated any employment discrimination laws.
• Analyze ethical considerations associated with the maintenance of a rigid company dress policy.
Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
1. The answer should be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
2. The response also includes a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student's name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.
3. Also include a reference page. The Citations and references should follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.