SHRM Hit with $11.5M Verdict: What HR Can Learn - Off The Clock Ep 102

In this episode, Miller Johnson employment attorneys Rebecca Strauss and Sarah Willey break down the $11.5 million jury verdict against SHRM—yes, the Society for Human Resource Management itself. They walk through the real case facts, explain where things went wrong, and offer takeaways for HR professionals to avoid similar (and costly) mistakes. 🔍 Tune in as we explore how: A flawed investigation created bias concerns Missed red flags turned into retaliation claims One email helped cost $10 million in punitive damages You can avoid these common HR pitfalls Whether you're an HR leader or business owner, this episode is packed with lessons that apply to any workplace. 📌 Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – What Happened in the SHRM Discrimination Case? 06:30 – Can HR Investigate & Advise at the Same Time? 09:00 – Retaliation Allegations & Firing on the Same Day 11:45 – What the Jury Believed (And Why It Mattered) 14:15 – How the Investigation Missed Key Coworker Testimony 16:20 – Managing Deadlines: Inconsistent Standards Across Employees 18:00 – Why Ignoring Retaliation Claims Is a Costly Mistake 20:00 – Understanding Section 1981 and Punitive Damages 21:00 – What the Jury Actually Decided 23:00 – The Dangers of Bias in Workplace Investigations 26:00 – No Email Caps: Why This Verdict Was So High 27:00 – Final Takeaways for Employers & HR Pros 📌 Note: This episode provides general information only and is not legal advice. 🎙️Podcast: You can also listen to all the “The Lawyers Off the Clock” podcast episodes by subscribing on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lRrGuS...