"New Areas of Discrimination Exposure for Employers"

Gayle Barrett, Attorney & Director, Crowe & Dunlevy, specializing in Labor and Employment Law

Discussion and analysis of recent United States Supreme Court and other federal court cases that have expanded the basis for discrimination claims against employers.

Why is the subject significant to the HR profession?

An HR professional needs to be aware of the potential liability of his/her employer so that he/she can develop policies and procedures that will protect and/or defend against discrimination claims.

Bio:
Gayle L. Barrett is a shareholder director with the Oklahoma City law firm of Crowe & Dunlevy, P.C.  She received a Bachelor of Science degree in social studies education in 1969 from the University of Oklahoma and a Juris Doctorate degree with high distinction in 1982 from Oklahoma City University.  Her practice includes representation of management in employment and labor law matters.

Ms. Barrett's professional memberships include:  past Secretary and Chairperson of the Oklahoma Bar Association's Labor & Employment Law Section; past member of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma County Bar Association; member of the American Bar Association (Labor & Employment Law Section), and the Defense Research Institute.

Ms. Barrett is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (Labor and Employment Law) and as one of the leading attorneys in Oklahoma in employment law by Chambers & Partners, Legal Publishers in Chambers USA America_s Leading Business Lawyers 2003-2004, 2005-2006.  Ms. Barrett is General Counsel for the Oklahoma City Human Resource Society.  Ms. Barrett has participated in numerous seminars on employment law and other legal issues.

Ms. Barrett exclusively represents management in employment litigation in state and federal court, as well as in charges of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Oklahoma Human Rights Commission.  She additionally advises clients in developing policies, handling complaints, investigations and employment matters.

Ms. Barrett's publications include:  Buffalo Chips to Senate Seats:  Women at Work in Oklahoma, University Printing Services (1979); contributing author, Annual Survey of Oklahoma Law, Family Law, Oklahoma City University Law Review, Volume 6, Spring 1981; and Annual Survey of Oklahoma Law, Constitutional Law, Oklahoma City University Law Review, Volume 6, Fall 1981; Employer's Obligations Under Recent Amendments to The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, The World Reports, Vol. X, No. 1, Spring 1998; Workplace Sexual Harassment What Next, The Briefcase, November 1997; Who is Responsible: EEOC Guidance on Liability for Discrimination Against Temporary Workers, The Briefcase, January 1998; Navigating Through the "Icebergs" of Employment Law _ Pre-Employment Inquiries, The Briefcase, July, 1998; Navigating Through the "Icebergs" of Employment Law Pre-Employment Inquiries, Part II, The Briefcase,  August, 1998; Current Status of Employer Liability for Supervisor Created Sexual Hostile Environment, The Briefcase, September, 1998.