Labor and Employment Law Books

Throughout my college career, I have become more and more aware of America's history in regards to inequality. Class Action brought up one of the most publicized forms of inequality in our nation, which is the inequality between men and women, especially in the workplace. Today, women are still only making $0.74-$0.76 on the dollar that every man makes, but that is only a mild form of the inequality that occurred only 30 years ago.

On March 25, 1975, Lois Jensen begins work at Eveleth Taconite in the mines to earn enough money to support her young son so they both could get off welfare. While the pay was very good, Lois, and other women who worked at the mines, endured sexual harassment that ranged from sexual comments to inappropriate touching and coercion by the male workers. Twelve years later, Lois finally decides that the only way to deal with the sexual harassment is through legal action since none of her bosses in the mines will correct the male workers' behaviors. Unfortunately, Lois only endures more hardship through trying to gain support of the other women at the mines, retain her job, and keep her sanity while being harassed even more. Lois's commitment to "right the wrong" of how the men treated the women at the mines brings up many questions of our society and what is legal that reside within.

Class Action helps us evaluate male privilege in the workforce, laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and how they were upheld, the immortal power of companies, and the human cost to achieve social change. It is astounding to read the type of harassment that these women endured and to realize that it happened in other parts of the country, and to some extent, still does today. The only things that Lois Jensen truly wanted was knowing that women would not have to live what she did through the company adopting a sexual harassment policy and an apology. She never got the apology, but thankfully, the former occurred on December 30, 1998.

The was a great book if you are interested in Civil Rights history and activism, women's rights, the jural system in relation to gender, and the economics of inequality. While Lois, other women, and the mines settled in 1998, the women essentially lost. After all that had happened, to achieve this precedent for sexual harassment law the women had to sacrifice their lives. This ultimately brings up the issue of how we have to be martyrs to make any social change truly happen.

The book is so much better than the movie. It gives you a much truer sense of what the women went through. Which is to be expected, of course, but I was surprised at the changes in the movie.

I assume that you will have seen the Movie first. I would have never heard of this book, without references in the DVD. BUT it is not necessary that you see the movie first. AND if you see the movie after reading the book be prepared for differences. But aside from comparisons, this is a terrific read about the first successful Sexual Harrassment case in the USA. It is set in the North Country made famous by Mr. Zimmerman. In fact some of the scenes and some of the characters are from Hibbing. Hero is one of the many misused words in Americana. But hero could be safely applied to the Lawyers who defended Lois Jenen.

I grew up on "da range" and I'm familiar with the mines. My hometown is Hoyt Lakes, not very far from Eveleth. My dad and one of my uncles worked at LTV Steel outside of Hoyt Lakes, I think even my brother worked there for a while. I don't remember hearing anything of the trial. Back in 1998 I was 9 years old. I became familiar with it, when they were filming the movie North Country while I was going to the community college in Virginia. I've watched the movie multiple times. Then this summer in one of my English classes we were required to read Class Action. By the time the class finished I hadn't finished the book yet, but that didn't stop me from reading it. This is a really great book, and I've had a hard time putting it down. Its so interesting to learn the facts of the case, and was even more surprised when I recognized some of the last names of the people. I haven't quite finished yet, I have about 60 pages to go. I keep finding myself getting irritated with the rulings of Judge McNulty. This is a very important book, and in my opinion everyone should read it.

Like some other reviewers I came across this book after seeing the movie North Country. The movie though is just good entertainment pulling at the heartstrings and very loosely based on the legal problems of single mother Lois Jenson.

The book, I'm pleased to say, is much more gripping and will keep you turning the pages until the end. I thought it raised various issues like:

*Why did the legal aspects of this case take from 1984 until a settlement in 1998? In 1997 a judgement from the Eighth Circuit court commented on the 'inordinate delay' and that it simply was not possible for the parties to get justice 'when a final outcome is issued more than ten years' after the case was filed and more than fifteen years since Lois started her class action.

*Why did the mineworkers union maintain such a male chauvinist view towards its female members? I always assumed that Minnesota folk, historically populated by hard working European immigrants in a hostile physical environment would have been much more sympathetic to the sexual harassment that went on year after year in the mines. In fact very few males come out of this story with much credibility, from the mine management down to the union, they are really shown to be sexist and ultra conservative when females start to (legally) work in their domain.

*Why did it take so long for the mines main insurance company, who were going to be the ultimate payers of any compensation, to get to grips with the case? When they did get closely involved in 1998 the problems seemed to evaporate and the ladies got their money

The authors write in a simple straightforward style fortunately avoiding flowery generalisations that seem a staple of non-fiction writing. The story unfolds in a logically time frame from March 1975 to the final financial settlement in November 1998. Early on there is an excellent historical overview of the Mesabi Range and the importance of the raw materials lying just under the surface. A nice touch I thought was the frequent explanations of points of law and how these affected the progress of the case.

A couple of points occurred to me as a read the book: I would have liked to see a listing at the start describing the principals, frequently a name popped up and I wondered who the person was having seen a mention maybe a hundred pages earlier. So much of the story describes the mine and other buildings, a simple diagram of the plant layout would have been helpful.

'Class Action' is a powerful narrative about a hostile working environment and the legal system and it reminds of a quote by Thomas Noon Talfourd:
Fill the seats of justice
With good men not so absolute in goodness
As to forget what human frailty is.

BTW. I wanted to see photos of the four heroes of the book, the wonderful Lois Jenson and her legal team Paul Sprenger, Jane Lang and Jean Boler and I found them all through Google Images.

This book really helped me to identify and deal with a terribly confusing ordeal. I am really happy someone told me about this book and it was available to help me.

It's hard to believe that sexual harassment is a reality in today's workplace. Unfortunately it is and this book is truly insightful and provides a needed safety net of information for those dealing with this difficult subject. Definitely the best I've seen on this subject.

Thank God this book was written! Unfortunately due to confidentiality clauses victims are made to sign, others dealing with similar problems on the job do not have the benefit of their experiences. Thanks to Ms. O'shea and Ms. LaLonde for having the courage to explore this difficult subject.

Having "been there and done that" this book validated all the emotions and choices I made as the victim of sexual harassment. It really tells it like it is. I highly recommend it to anyone who truly wants to understand the ramifications of sexual harassment.

Understanding the sensitivities surrounding the subject of the book, I realize it may seem rather obtuse to "enjoy" reading it.

However, this book is not just about condolence. Rather, it gives us the realization of the prevalent societal truth. Also, the book is not just a mere reference, but true stories based on authors' own experiences.

Authors sketched the very contours of real life in our society, but it's a finely tuned portrait, with deep perspective and understanding, rather than a mere description.

The book is well written and unapologetic in its frankness.....most readers, whether it'd be a man or a woman, should find some relatedness to this book.

I purchased the book since my employer explained that I will become an independent contractor for 2007. The book explained everything about being a contractor and how to stay in line with paying the taxes, how to protect my self employed status, what deductions I can take, and what forms and agreements I should use. I found it very informative and would recommend it to anyone who wants to understand the world of self employment.

I recently a started an S corp for my software contracting. The book is helpful and worth the price. It won't answer EVERY question you will have, but you probably should talk to a CPA for those anyway.

Plenty of books impart the basics of how to work independently - but too few include all the legal tips, tricks and traps involved. WORKING FOR YOURSELF: LAW & TAXES FOR INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS, FREELANCERS & CONSULTANTS covers everything from setting appropriate fees and understanding how and when taxes are paid to limiting liability and getting paid. Record-keeping processes are simplified with sample logs and entry advice, chapters on how the IRS defines an independent contractor versus a paid employee are essential keys to keeping independent status, and advice on pricing and insurance offer key strategy-oriented tips and approaches. A 'must' for any who would work independently.

My husband is an independent photographer, so the Nolo Press books are great for him, geared as they are to all those wishing to handle all the paperwork for themselves, instead of the usual array of lawyers, accountants, etc. He keeps it as a reference book and can easily turn to whatever subject he needs more information on. Well-written and easy to understand, as are all Nolo books, these books are wonderful to review periodically.

A potential employer asked that I incorporate my freelancing business before they start sending me jobs. I wanted to do some research on the pros/cons of incorporating, what kind of start-ups costs this would entail, and what kind of corporation I should be. At first, the whole process of incorporating sounded like a huge money burden on my part--with filing fees and taxes--but this book has helped me sort out the issues and provided detailed information about the different ways to incorporate--sole proprietorship, LLC, S-corps. Although I haven't yet decided which path I will take, this book has made the jump to freelancing, and self-incorporating, less scary.

Not only do I understand my choices better, but I also now understand the different structures for businesses and their tax responsibilities. Great distillation of information! The copies of tax forms in the back are also a great reference. Highly recommended.

This book contains invaluable information for women entering the law profession, but it is also recommended for anyone interested in learning more about sociological changes that have (and perhaps more importantly those that haven't) occurred in the workplace.

Ms. English has collected an impressive array of candid and insightful quotes from a multitude of male and female attorneys representing every region of the country. Well researched and written in a highly engaging style, GENDER ON TRIAL provides a window into the world of law regarding the dynamics of the gender differences, attitudes, and interactions that lie therein.

I suspected that I would learn a great deal from reading this book, but I didn't expect to enjoy it so much!

This book is a must read for all people who are interested in work-life balance! If you have children and are a working mother, you will keenly identify with this book. If you are considering having children, get some insight on what to expect. If you are in a leadership capacity in your workplace, read this book and think about how you can best adapt your environment to the changing world. Our subtle daily actions can impact others in a variety of ways and this book points them out.

It is a stunningly thorough and insightful treatment of the topic. English offers us fine read for us non-lawyers who recognize the realities of gender as a part of the modern work place. Little of this is unique to the legal profession, though some of the extremities, arising out of the "live by the billable hour" business model, are perhaps particular to the legal and perhaps the consulting industries. English strikes a balanced tone and searches for realistic answers to the persistent questions of coping with gender in the work place. It all rings very true, including the extremely balanced approach and acknowledgement of the impossibility of eliminating, rather than managing, issues relating to gender in the work place. Her research is exhaustive, balanced and compelling. It is a must read for professionals in all fields, both men and women.

This book is a highly entertaining road map to a not-too-distant future in which "work/life balance in the legal workplace" will be a given for both sexes, a world in which a well-balanced, well-lived life becomes the rule rather than the exception.

As a practicing attorney (male) of thirty years (and an all-too-frequent casualty of the dreaded fourteen hour days), I found this book to be informative, eye-opening, and most of all, encouraging.

Ms. English makes a compelling case for accepting and embracing change. Her book should be required reading at every law firm in America.

Gender on Trial is a very readable and thoughtful analysis of how cultural stereotypes about gender influence men and women's behavior at legal workplaces across the country. The author organizes hundreds of quotes form interviews with lawyers and presents them so well that her argument leaps off the page without any turgid or redundant narrative. Her colorful metaphors bring humor and depth to the story via catchy chapter headings and sub-headings, for example, in Chapter 3, she refers to law firms as "cauldrons of lust", a funny image for the legal profession. I never realized there was so much sexual activity going on behind closed(or not so closed) office doors!

As a female non-lawyer, many of the anecdotes rang true to me as I looked back on my own awkward experiences navigating the corporate world twenty years ago. Generally, I think professional workplace behavior is gradually becoming more sensitive to gender differences, but there is a long way to go. Gender on Trial should be mandatory reading for Human Resource professionals and both men and women in all managerial positions, not just lawyers.

I strongly recommend this book for people planning to start-up their first business, those becoming supervisors for the first time, and those who are entering human resource positions . . . as well as those who do not know how employment law currently works.

Most problems with employees begin with incomplete or poor communications. This guide is just as good at helping with those communications as it is with understanding how the law applies to situations that arise.

As an attorney, I found the legal information to be complete and accurate (often providing summaries and references to state laws, as well as federal ones). As a management consultant, I found almost all of the advice to be pertinent and up-to-date with best practices. The only exception was that many management experts now discourage annual reviews in favor of continuous feedback (which is also encouraged by the book).

Have you ever fired anyone? It's no fun. The book's description of how events should lead up to that, and how to handle the event for all concerned is wise and helpful for anyone who is about to have to do that. Even if you have fired people before, you can probably get some good ideas in this book for how to do it better.

If you don't have a system for progressive discipline (feedback that improvement needs to be made), you can get what you need here to design and implement such a system.

This guide will also be helpful to disgruntled employees who wonder if they should seek out an attorney. The section on how to find an employment attorney is equally applicable to companies and employees.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that after going into firing, the book also takes the reader back into hiring to see how to avoid hiring people in the future who will have to be fired.

In total, this book surpassed my very high expectations. Nice job!

After you finish reading this book, think about how the principles of good communication and fairness developed in the book could be applied to working with customers and other important stakeholders as well.

This Nolo Guide is an excellent discussion in plain English of the many things that are involved when you are dealing with problem employees. In 10 chapters, the book covers all the important topics from understanding the problem, employment law basics, and handling complaints, to information on how to fire, planning for the aftermath, and hiring a lawyer if necessary.

Nolo Guides have always been a small business owner's best legal friends but they are useful to almost anyone that wants to have a better understanding of the law before consulting a lawyer (as this saves on money you would have to spend getting educated). This book is no exception and provides very valuable information and advice on how to handle difficult situations with problem employees.

One of the best sections that I found useful were in the chapter on Employement Law Basics. Over the years, working as a Manager in various companies, I had heard of Employment at Will but didn't fully understand its implications. I had signed several employment contracts with my employers without realizing what they meant. After reading this chapter, it made me realize how many of those contracts were not enforceable! And now as an employer, I understand what kinds of contracts ARE enforceable so I can protect myself!

So I believe this book is helpful whether you are an employer or an employee to get a better understanding of the law. This book is NOT meant to replace the legal advice from a lawyer but to arm you with better knowledge before you approach a lawyer. I utilize the services of a lawyer on a need basis but I always read the Nolo books on the specific topic before my meeting. As a result of that, I have saved money by asking the right questions to my lawyer and in turn my lawyer has really appreciated working with a knowledgeable client! I wish I had access to this book when I was an employee as I would have benefited tremendously (as it turns out this book was published after 2001 by which time I had already started my own business). It would have avoided a lot of heartache as I misunderstood what I had signed and thought I couldn't do certain things when in fact I could. I also missed a couple of business opportunities as a result of that.

I hope you find this book as valuable as I did. I actually have more than 30 of their books on all kinds of legal topics. I plan on buying more whenever I can afford them. I have not been disapopinted by a single book from Nolo yet. Good luck!

I have given away quite a few copies of this book to friends who stepped into new management positions. Always, it seems, there is a situation that has been stewing for months if not years with a problem person. But dealing with the problem the RIGHT way saves money, the wrong way, well, you do the math. Sometimes problem employees can be quite clever at working the system to their favor. Other times, dismissing them or managing them improperly leads to a time bomb. Expensive any way you look at it, not to mention the time sink it can cause.

This book covers the high cost of problem employees, production and performance issues, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, morality, insubordination and absenteeism. Then it goes on to give an overview of the law. How to do performance evaluations, progressive discipline and then investigation and summary action. There is a chapter on planning for the aftermath of a dismissal or action, severance policy and how to terminate an employee properly (hint, don't do it in a van while the terminee-to-be is driving the van, something I've seen in my career and really CANNOT recommend as a safe way to fire anyone.)

This is absolutely a must on any manager's business library shelf. Cannot recommend it enough.

Dealing With Problem Employees is an excellent resource for most organizations, especially for start up companies. This fine book investigates key employment issues such as contract employees, sexual harassment, alcohol and drug abuse, developing performance appraisals, dealing with dangerous employees, interviewing, and countless legal issues. All of the above issues are discussed from a detailed point of view as numerous examples are cited illustrating the fine line between what is proper conduct and what is illegal. Very specific examples are given how to fire someone, provide fair job references, and conduct a disciplinary hearing that motivates employees to improve. The importance of having an employee handbook is emphasized greatly. The depth is so phenomenal that there is even a section on how to fire your employment lawyer when he does you wrong.

There are a few questionable sections on exit interviews. From my personal experiences, most firms blur the line between termination and exit interviews. In other words, when someone is terminated there is one meeting on the employees' last day explaining why he is being let go and all the benefits that this person is entitled to. Maybe some higher level management personnel may have some of these extended privileges. I realize that there are a few exceptions as the authors describe. However, from where I stand, most terminations due to performance consist of one meeting combining all the elements combined in the termination and exit interviews. Financial layoffs may vary.

Also the section of an employee being allowed to have representation in a termination meeting is slightly disjointed. I have never encountered such a situation for myself or anyone else. Perhaps there are a few unusual exceptions but truthfully I think the authors need to adjust their position at least a little bit.

Nonetheless, this is super book with outstanding legal references in every chapter. I can certainly overlook the two small weaknesses illustrated above as the strengths are great, numerous, and in great detail. I must emphasize that this is excellent reading for employers and even employers. Yes, employees should be aware of the many interpersonal and legal issues their employers face. In conclusion, a must have on all fronts.

This book is an excellent starter for anyone who is new to running a small company, and wants a better understanding of the legal pitfalls of employment practices and some practical advice on how to avoid them. The book does a good job in covering most of the basics of employment law, and in addition provides some tips on performance management, terminations, and investigations that should work well in the majority of situations.

There are a couple of areas where the book is a little light, and therefore a business owner or leader would want more information. The section and information on sexual harassment laws is weak, considering that the most common type of sexual harassment complaint (hostile work environment) is a broad set of very gray areas of risk determined by the employee. Little coverage is given to the legal definitions of sexual harassment, including how an employer may be liable if they "should have known" the behavior was taking place. Additionally more information on how to create a positive working environment, which avoids legal risks but is still a place where people want to work, would be useful. Additionally, most business owners would like to see information on how to better connect the dots between employee behavior, legal constraints and business results.

I also recommend that any leader wishing to employ these tips and practical information in their workplace first read one of the many excellent books on leadership, or how to motivate employees, and how and why to treat people with dignity and respect. The excellent and unusual leadership book, Leadership and Self Deception, is an example of a great companion for this text. Consider this book the "what" and "how" of what to do with legal employment issues, and others to really focus on the "why".

Overall, this is an excellent resource; it is well written and planned with easy access to information. The resources provided are excellent. The authors did a commendable job and taking often complex legal information and writing it in a way non-lawyers can understand and utilize. It is what it advertises to be, a legal guide. I think this will make an excellent resource for small business owners, and plan to give my copy to a friend who runs a small non-profit and is always calling me for advise of this nature.

Plenty of employment-related discrimination issues are before the federal courts yearly - a dilemma which all too easily could have been avoided, in most cases. Learn how to avoid the possibility in your own management position with Jathan Janove, Esq's MANAGING TO STAY OUT OF COURT: HOW TO AVOID THE 8 DEADLY SINS OF MISMANAGEMENT. Chapters based on employment law and legal findings present eight common management principles and a set of workplace problems associated with them which often lead to court, pairing these principles with real-life examples and exercises to help readers identify pitfalls in their own operations. Quite simply: any who would avoid legal problems in business management must read this book.

The relationship between employee and employer has never been smooth. Even back in Dickens "A Christman Carol" the relationship was strained. Then around the turn of the last century we had all the efforts with the unions being developed. Now unions are declining and the lawyers have taken over.

I've had my share of working for bad managers. In fact there've only been a couple that I would have rated as good. Those managers followed the rules that Mr. Janove has written down. This is good legal advice, but it is just plain good management advice as well. This is the way you would want to be treated by a manager, and it is clearly the way you should treat your employees.

The eight deadly sins he defines are not coached in legal terms, they are just good common sense that we should all follow.

This is an essential desk-top resource for managers at all levels. The "what should I do or say now" approach makes it easy to follow and, more importantly, implement a multitude of practical suggestions. Excellent!

I read this book, not because I was concerned about being sued, but because I was looking for pointers to become a better manager, and it worked well on both counts. I liked this book much more than those written by executives describing their personal successes, because this book proposed a variety of scenarios from many angles. I could relate to many of the "deadly sins", was anxious to read the author's proposed solutions and wasn't disappointed with what I read. The book is very readable, very practical in its advice and isn't long-winded. The layout of each chapter is optimal as a "self-help" type of book to encourage follow through. I've already benefited from implementing a number of the author's ideas, and am anxious to re-read it for more. This one won't gather dust!

This book is well written and organized.The author's practicle experience is presented so that it is most useful to managers.Legalese is avoided in favor of clear communication.In today's litigious environment this book is invaluable.I believe that businesses that do not make use of this wonderful tool are likely to regret it.

I purchased an older edition of this book back in the early 90's and it has been my "bible" on the job ever since! This book is in a straightforward, easy to understand format and contains invaluable information for anyone who works.

Excellent source of information for the lay person. Covers topics which apply to situations encounterd daily. Must have background for all supervisors and anyone who prefers to avoid problems instead of solving them.

This book takes you through the whole process of the interview right through making the decision as to whether your rights have been violated and what to do if they have been. This is a very easy to read book done in a very thoughtful way exploring whether contesting an employers action is a smart decision to suing the hell out of them for a blatent violation of the law. Ill never go unprepared again.

I have been in the Labor Movement for 32 Years and this is the MOST infomitive book I've read on Labor Laws. This book is Reader Friendly and in layman's terms, with references to just about Everything Workers need about Labor Rights. If your having legitament problems at your Workplace, GET this Book!!!

Excellent, informative and enjoyable read. This book is extremely well-written. It offers a wide spectrum of Employment Law. I usually keep books like this on hand to skim through, as reference material. However, this book was such an enjoyable read, I didn't want to put it down!

Many thanks to the author.

pstroe@nac.net

Written by corporate leadership and crisis management expert John F. Boogaert and former business trial lawyer Douglas E. Noll, Sex, Politics, & Religion at the Office: The New Competitive Advantage is a guide for business and corporate managers and officials to move beyond simple legal compliance with national regulations and shape corporate culture with healthy attitudes towards sex, politics, religion, and power. From setting one's "Grounded Positioning Statement" to understanding the reality of the intersection between politics and religion to learning how to be nonjudgmental, noncritical, and nonreactive when dealing with thorny sexual, religious, or values-based issues, Sex, Politics, & Religion at the Office offers valuable insight into how human beings actually think and work, and how best to be the catalyst to improved coworker and worker-management relations. True vignettes pepper this handy, sensible, down-to-earth guide which avoids any kind of moralizing and focuses on promoting intellectual and emotional well-being at the office.

Boogaert and Noll have dared to cross the picket line of compliance and move into a courageous reliance on laws much deeper within the hearts and souls of men and women. Sex, Politics and Religion at the Office offers a trailblazing approach empowering employees to take their entire tool kit to work and to awaken the full spectrum of their possibilities.

Boogaert and Noll take on the forbidden subjects of sex, politics and religion at the office and through their book allow us to have safe and respectful conversations about the very topics that divide us as a culture and a country. Repression, they declare, is no longer an option for any company wishing a sustainable competitive advantage from its workforce. Instead, starting with our own internal assumptions, values and beliefs, and working outwards towards our co-workers, we learn what truly healthy attitudes look like. Boogaert and Noll show us how these essential human qualities can be turned into significant profits for any organziation. I found this book to be refreshing, eye-opening, and enlightening and am recommending it to all of my clients.

Sex, Politics, and Religion at the Office is brilliantly written with experience as the backbone to these two authors. Douglas E. Noll and John F. Boogaert bridge the business world from the crazy laws now covering sexual harassment, to the common sense approach that not only will show you how not to suffer lawsuits, but will actually make your company money. This book truly is "The New Competitive Advantage" for companies with 2 employees to over 2,000.

Doug and John do an excellent job of wrestling with the elephant in the room. Rather than sweeping the entire reality of our basic human frailties, temptations, needs and desires in our workplace under the rug, these two gentlemen hit them head on. With no apology or excuses, every chapter of this latest work plainly and simply lays out the hesitancies, blushings and provocative thinking of our workplace colleagues. Through stories and the rational application of proven theories about how human beings behave with each other, the authors help management explore, identify and design an employment environment that can remain sensitive to each employee's unique personal identity while maintaining professional respect, acknowledgement and validation critical to sustaining a productive workforce.

Golder provides an awesome depiction of the social, philosophical, and legal hurdles that today's employees face in an ever-changing work environment. Uncivil Rights is THE definitive text about the true meaning of workplace rights. This book should become the bedside companion to everyone in corporate America- secretary to CEO. This book is a masterpiece of unparalleled form and content. Read Golder's work to enhance! Read Golder's work to enrich! Read Golder's work to enlighten! Uncivil Rights is guaranteed to empower the employee and humble the employer. Uncivil Rights will revolutionize America and make for a more just and civilized society. Thomas Jefferson would surely applaud Professor Golder!

Golder is an excellent writer. He is easy to follow and takes a practical approach to common situations.

I thoroughly enjoyed part #4. It covers half the book (85 pages) and is called "horror stories". In that section, he writes about many of his real life experiences.

Golder's experiences serve as important lessons to all in this book which can help out anyone having problems at work. I was involved in a wrongful termination suit years ago and would have benefited greatly if I had read this book. For anyone who is having problems at work and needs to know their rights, this is the book. Also, the stories Golder uses were very interesting.

Golder provides an awesome depiction of the social, philosophical, and legal hurdles that today's employees face in an ever-changing work environment. Uncivil Rights is THE definitive text about the true meaning of workplace rights. This book should become the bedside companion to everyone in corporate America- secretary to CEO. This book is a masterpiece of unparalleled form and content. Read Golder's work to enhance! Read Golder's work to enrich! Read Golder's work to enlighten! Uncivil Rights is guaranteed to empower the employee and humble the employer. Uncivil Rights will revolutionize America and make for a more just and civilized society. Thomas Jefferson would surely applaud Professor Golder!

I read Golder's book while in the midst of a long period of conflict with my employer. Uncivil Rights opened my eyes. Golder provides the reader with a clear understanding of an employee's rights. This new understanding allowed me to formulate a strategy which led to an amicable and equitable agreement. Thank you, Professor Golder.

Paniccia did a great service for any woman that may be thinking of filing a sexual discrimination suit. Especially, if they already have filed suit and have a lawyer who is not forthcoming about what to expect.

There were some areas of interest that I personally have that Paniccia did not cover, but overall this is a worthy read if you're contemplating a lawsuit. It will prepare you in many ways and this type of preparation is necessary in order to survive a lawsuit of this nature. No one but a woman who has endured sexual discrimination or retaliation could understand.

Whereas Paniccia's case was outright and obvious with her "mommydom" memo, there are many women, I believe, who are constantly enduring discrimination only in more oblique/obtuse ways that can easily be covered over or explained away. This is especially true in today's society where I do not think the court system is favorable to the individual. Finding a lawyer who is truly dedicated to your cause and remembers that it's your case and you lived it is very important to succeeding. These types of lawyers are few and far betweeen. What with case loads so high, and the push by firms to take clients that can make big settlements, these cases often don't get the attention they deserve.

Maybe if they made the settlements higher, more lawyers would be inclined to take the cases and then maybe there would be less tolerance in the workplace for this type of behavior. Right now, it's still a good 'ol boy system and as long as it is, they'll make and break the rules as they please!

My wife and I purchased "Work Smarts" because she was the victim of the subtle discriminatory practices in place at her job.

We found the book to be a well written and informative guide. Especially useful to us were the sections on collecting proper documentation, and lodging a formal complaint.

Recommended to any woman who wants to be proactive and protect herself from sexual discrimination before things get out of hand.

As women worldwide continue to struggle with double-standards and undesirable work conditions, Patti Paniccia's insightful book offers a way out. The most (only?)comprehensive guide to redefining what is fair, Paniccia's book deals with the myriad of issues surrounding hers, and other cases with an elegance normally lacking in the "How-To" genre and should not be pigeon-holed as such.

Why should women ipso facto put up with inferior gender biasing? Paniccia's personal account with sex discrimination infuses the book with fire and solution.

Passing on a baton of freedom from injustice is Paniccia's true gift. Her children will reap the benefits of her undisputable strength.

I read a review of Work Smarts for Women while I was living through a nightmare sexual harassment situation. I anxiously awaited the book release. I bought it as soon as it was available. If I had access to this book prior to reporting the situation according to organizational policy I would have known that following organizational policy is contrary to my best interest.

Everyone has to decide what course of action is best for themselves. Read this book before you try to work with organizational management. It will help you decide what course of action is best for you and how to go about achieving your goals.

work smarts for women is a great resource for employers and all working women in the united states. it is well written and simple to read. it offers a complete explanation of our complicated discrimination laws and the process developed by those laws. real life stories of women who suffered discrimination are used to show how the laws and processes work. paniccia's hard work should be appreciated by both employees and human resource departments.