Legal Briefs.

Bypass your promotion process? You'll risk a lawsuit

Barbara worked as a machine operator, a job mostly held by men. She complained to the EEOC that male bosses at her factory groomed men for promotions and withheld training opportunities from women. A manager told Barbara he could promote whomever he wanted. Now the EEOC has sued on her behalf. (EEOC v. Corning, WD NY)

The lesson: When considering promoting an employee, carefully follow (and document) all steps in the process, from job announcement to final decision. Never let favoritism taint the promotion process.

Remove cold calling from your recruitment toolkit

Desperate for new employees, a California company decided to send a pre-recorded voice mail message to customers' cell phones highlighting the job openings. Rather than apply, one customer sued under a federal law that outlaws automated calls without the recipient's "prior express consent." The court agreed, and the company faces fines of $500 to $1,500 per call. (Loyhayem v. Eraser Financial, 9th Cir.)

The...