48 min

HR News: Sex Harassment? Really?; DEI by Any Other Name with Catherine Clifton Good Morning, HR

    • Management

In episode 141, Coffey talks with Catherine Clifton about recent news about sexual harassment, discrimination, and what’s next for DEI programs.
They discuss employer lessons to be learned from California's Sunshine Raisin $2 million sexual harassment lawsuit; Florida's Stop Woke Act; two “reverse discrimination” cases; and the shift away from “diversity” to “inclusion.”
Links to stuff they talked about are on our website at https://goodmorninghr.com/EP141 and include the following topics:
- Sunshine Raisin / National Raisin to Pay $2 Million in EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
- Stop Woke Act Stopped by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals…For Now
- DEI Under Scrutiny, Part VIII: Eleventh Circuit Strikes Down Florida Ban On Workplace DEI Training Under First Amendment
- 4th Circuit backs $3.4 mln award in white ex-hospital exec's bias case
- DEI Task Force Update (March 13, 2024)
- Does DEI training create a hostile work environment?
- The shifting language around DE&I isn’t just about politics
- Episode 118: Evidence Based Inclusion with Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey
- C+: Employers given 'less favourable' score on LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three-quarters of a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Catherine has more than 20 years of experience specializing in employment law in Texas. She worked with multiple local governmental entities as an employment law attorney and also served as a legal advisor for public safety. 
She spent several years as an administrative services director, where she was responsible for Human Resources, Risk Management, and Payroll. She has advised clients on recruitment, selection, discipline, wage and hour, policies, and grievance matters, including federal and state laws related to labor and employment. 
Catherine also has experience with general municipal law, utility matters, public information, open meetings, and general governance matters. 
Catherine is a graduate of Southwestern University, obtained her JD from Texas Tech University. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). She joined Ross | Gannaway | Clifton, PLLC in 2022.
Catherine Clifton can be reached at:
www.RossGannaway.law
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rossgannawayclifton/
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, human resources professional, licensed private investigator, and HR consultant.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations firm helping risk-averse companies make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Today, Imperative serves hundreds of businesses across the US and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence and has twice been named HR Professional of the Year.
Additionally, Imperative has been named the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike is a member of the Fort Worth chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and volunteers with the SHRM Texas State Council.
Mike maintains his certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute. He is also a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Mike lives in Fort Worth with his very patient wife. He practices yoga and maintains a keto diet, about both of which he will gladly tell you way more than you want to know.
Learning Objectives:
1. Evaluate the effectiveness

In episode 141, Coffey talks with Catherine Clifton about recent news about sexual harassment, discrimination, and what’s next for DEI programs.
They discuss employer lessons to be learned from California's Sunshine Raisin $2 million sexual harassment lawsuit; Florida's Stop Woke Act; two “reverse discrimination” cases; and the shift away from “diversity” to “inclusion.”
Links to stuff they talked about are on our website at https://goodmorninghr.com/EP141 and include the following topics:
- Sunshine Raisin / National Raisin to Pay $2 Million in EEOC Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
- Stop Woke Act Stopped by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals…For Now
- DEI Under Scrutiny, Part VIII: Eleventh Circuit Strikes Down Florida Ban On Workplace DEI Training Under First Amendment
- 4th Circuit backs $3.4 mln award in white ex-hospital exec's bias case
- DEI Task Force Update (March 13, 2024)
- Does DEI training create a hostile work environment?
- The shifting language around DE&I isn’t just about politics
- Episode 118: Evidence Based Inclusion with Dr. Jonathan Ashong-Lamptey
- C+: Employers given 'less favourable' score on LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three-quarters of a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Catherine has more than 20 years of experience specializing in employment law in Texas. She worked with multiple local governmental entities as an employment law attorney and also served as a legal advisor for public safety. 
She spent several years as an administrative services director, where she was responsible for Human Resources, Risk Management, and Payroll. She has advised clients on recruitment, selection, discipline, wage and hour, policies, and grievance matters, including federal and state laws related to labor and employment. 
Catherine also has experience with general municipal law, utility matters, public information, open meetings, and general governance matters. 
Catherine is a graduate of Southwestern University, obtained her JD from Texas Tech University. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR). She joined Ross | Gannaway | Clifton, PLLC in 2022.
Catherine Clifton can be reached at:
www.RossGannaway.law
https://www.linkedin.com/company/rossgannawayclifton/
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, human resources professional, licensed private investigator, and HR consultant.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations firm helping risk-averse companies make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Today, Imperative serves hundreds of businesses across the US and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence and has twice been named HR Professional of the Year.
Additionally, Imperative has been named the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike is a member of the Fort Worth chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and volunteers with the SHRM Texas State Council.
Mike maintains his certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute. He is also a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Mike lives in Fort Worth with his very patient wife. He practices yoga and maintains a keto diet, about both of which he will gladly tell you way more than you want to know.
Learning Objectives:
1. Evaluate the effectiveness

48 min