201103.18
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More Men Reporting Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

According to a report by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) the percentage of men in America reporting sexual harassment in the workplace has more than doubled in the past twenty years.

The report which combines statistics gathered by the EEOC and Fair Employment Practice Agency (FEPA) shows that complaints of sexual harassment in the workplace instigated by males increased from 8.0% in 1990 to 16.4% for the year 2010.

Although the majority of complaints are still made by women, the agency is contacted by more than 2,000 men each year in respect of workplace sexual harassment – frequently alleging male-on-male harassment.

Although the growing number of claims recorded in this report would indicate that more men are being sexually harassed in the workplace, it is unclear whether it is simply a case of more men coming forward and reporting these incidents whereas they would have previously remained silent.

201005.22
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Students Wins Compensation From College That Ignored Special Needs

Rosie Watson, aged 48, a deaf student at Durham University, has reach a settlement of £25,000 after the university repeatedly failed to take her profound deafness into account.

Ms Watson claimed that her tutors were not informed about her special needs due to her deafness or failed to take them into account, and continued to deny assistance even when she requested it.  Ms Watson said that ignoring her special needs effectively meant that the university discriminated against her, which forced her to leave in her third year. The compensation claim was supported by Darlington Association on Disability.

The settlement was to reimburse her college fees, a student loan, but also for injury to her feelings and psychiatric damage.

Durham University denied the claims and paid the compensation to Ms Watson without any admission of liability.

201001.11
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Soldier Awarded 22,000 Pounds for Racial Abuse

A former Welsh Guard soldier of Jamaican origin has been awarded over £22,000 in damages for racial abuse.  Private Kerry Hylton was serving as as a chef in the Welsh Guards when he left in March 2008.  He had served five years of service with the Royal Logistics Corps, apparently without any problems. It was claimed that Hylton suffered regular verbal abuse. It was alleged that Hylton and his family were locked in their army quarters after someone glued their door shut. It was also alleged that Hylton was arrested and assaulted by the Royal Military Police when he made a complaint. The award consisted of £18,500 for injury to feelings, £1,500 for aggravated damages, and £2,202 in interest.