Skip to content
The empathiHR Blog

Defensible practice, decoded.

Plain-English analysis from inside an active workplace-investigation practice. State mandate changes, EEOC enforcement trends, the Affirmative Defense, and the daily operating details that determine whether your defense actually holds when tested.

Negligent Hiring Is the Headline. Negligent Retention Is the Problem You Have to Solve
Corrective Action

Negligent Hiring Is the Headline. Negligent Retention Is the Problem You Have to Solve

The Dorney Park negligent hiring lawsuit is a wake-up call, but the bigger risk for most employers is negligent retention.

April 9, 2026 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Texas SB 45 Explained: What Small Employers Must Know
Texas Law Affirmative Defense

Texas Sexual Harassment Law: What Small Employers Must Know About SB 45

Texas sexual harassment law now covers employers with a single employee. What SB 45 changed, and what small employers have to do about it.

April 2, 2026 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Building Safer Ministries: Why Investigation Protocols Are a Strategic Imperative
Workplace Investigations Harassment Prevention

Building Safer Ministries: Why Investigation Protocols Are a Strategic Imperative

Receiving a complaint is only the beginning. How a ministry responds determines whether the process protects people or compounds harm.

March 24, 2026 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
When Institutions Investigate Themselves, Accountability Disappears
Workplace Investigations Harassment Prevention

When Institutions Investigate Themselves, Accountability Disappears

A recent congressional vote is a reminder that self-policing rarely works. Not in government. Not in corporations.

March 9, 2026 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Building Safer Ministries: Why Third-Party Reporting Is a Strategic Imperative
Workplace Investigations Harassment Prevention

Building Safer Ministries: Why Third-Party Reporting Is a Strategic Imperative

A safe ministry culture requires more than good intentions. It requires complaint pathways that people will actually use.

March 4, 2026 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Building Safer Ministries: Why Harassment Prevention Training Is a Strategic Imperative
Workplace Investigations Harassment Prevention

Building Safer Ministries: Why Harassment Prevention Training Is a Strategic Imperative

Harassment prevention training isn’t just a legal checkbox for ministries. It’s a practical step to protect people, reduce risk, and reinforce trust.

February 6, 2026 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Why the Insurance Auto Auctions Race Harassment Settlement Matters to Your Business
EEOC Workplace Investigations

Why the Insurance Auto Auctions Race Harassment Settlement Matters to Your Business

Allowing race-based harassment while management ignored an employee's complaints resulted in a lawsuit settlement of $175,000 by Insurance Auto Auctions.

June 5, 2025 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Why the Texas Ruling on Transgender Protections Matters Now
Texas Law EEOC

Why the Texas Ruling on Transgender Protections Matters Now

A Texas court vacated portions of the EEOC's 2024 harassment guidance. What still stands under Bostock, and what employers should do now.

June 3, 2025 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Trump, the EEOC and the Impact on Employers
EEOC Harassment Prevention

Trump, the EEOC and the Impact on Employers

Following President Trump's re-election, the EEOC has undergone leadership changes, policy shifts, and a reassessment of its enforcement priorities.

February 17, 2025 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
The Benefits of a Strong Affirmative Defense to Allegations of Workplace Harassment
EEOC Affirmative Defense

The Benefits of a Strong Affirmative Defense to Allegations of Workplace Harassment

Workplace harassment or discrimination allegations can have significant legal, reputational, and financial consequences for organizations.

December 10, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
The Argument for Outsourcing Workplace Misconduct Investigations
Workplace Investigations Harassment Prevention

The Argument for Outsourcing Workplace Misconduct Investigations

Outsourcing workplace investigations to third-party professionals offers organizations numerous advantages, including time efficiency, immediate.

June 27, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: What Employers Need to Know (and Do) to Stay Compliant
Harassment Prevention Discrimination

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: What Employers Need to Know (and Do) to Stay Compliant

Pregnancy accommodations have been in a legal gray area for years, leaving many employers and HR professionals uncertain about their responsibilities.

May 25, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Navigating the Speak Out Act
Workplace Investigations Harassment Prevention

Navigating the Speak Out Act

In an era where transparency and accountability are more important than ever, the **Speak Out Act**, signed into law in December 2022, introduces new.

May 13, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Key Elements of an Effective Workplace Harassment Prevention Program
Workplace Investigations Harassment Prevention

Key Elements of an Effective Workplace Harassment Prevention Program

An effective workplace harassment prevention program includes several critical components designed to foster a safe, respectful environment and minimize the.

April 21, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
The Role of Risk Mitigation in Addressing Workplace Harassment and Discrimination
EEOC Affirmative Defense

The Role of Risk Mitigation in Addressing Workplace Harassment and Discrimination

Establishing a comprehensive risk mitigation program, such as a company’s Affirmative Defense, is a proven strategy for reducing claims of harassment and.

April 6, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Application of Affirmative Defense in Workplace Discrimination Cases
EEOC Affirmative Defense

Application of Affirmative Defense in Workplace Discrimination Cases

In cases of workplace discrimination, the Affirmative Defense allows employers to defend against liability by demonstrating proactive efforts to prevent and.

March 27, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Harassment Prevention Discrimination

American Apparel

American Apparel faced significant controversy in 2014 when founder and CEO Dov Charney was ousted due to numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.

March 22, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Harassment Prevention Discrimination

CBS

In 2018, CBS faced intense scrutiny when CEO Les Moonves was accused of sexual misconduct.

March 9, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Affirmative Defense Workplace Investigations

HP

​​In 2010, HP CEO Mark Hurd resigned following a scandal that involved allegations of sexual harassment and expense report manipulation.

February 26, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Affirmative Defense Harassment Prevention

Papa Johns

In 2018, Papa John's founder John Schnatter stepped down after reports revealed he used a racial slur on a conference call, which led to public outrage and.

February 4, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR
Affirmative Defense Workplace Investigations

Uber

In 2017, Uber's CEO Travis Kalanick resigned amid multiple scandals, including allegations of systemic workplace harassment and discrimination.

January 19, 2024 Chris Jeans, Co-Founder, empathiHR

Want personalized guidance now?

The compliance assessment is more actionable than any blog post, and it is built around your specific roster, jurisdictions, and risk profile.