by Race in the Workplace special correspondent Erica

Coffee Mug Fuels Controversy - Hartford Courant
“A coffee mug used by Department of Public Safety Commissioner John A. Danaher III showing the Confederate flag in a Civil War battle has angered black leaders who said it was insensitive to display a symbol of hate, particularly when the state police have been under fire for complaints of racism.”

The Stepford Staff: Or How It Happens That a Boss Is Cloned - Wall Street Journal’s Cubicle Culture (subscription)
“Yet managers, or anyone recruiting, are often the last to recognize the irrelevant behavior. Prof. Chatman’s research shows there’s no limit to the ’suck up till you die’ approach to authority. That means flattery, including its sincerest form, is lapped up by bosses who view it as a sign they’ve successfully influenced their people. That may explain why ‘people who have no interest at all in golf, or in walking around a pollen field of a golf course in the springtime, take up golf,’ says executive-search consultant Patricia Cook, who estimates that as many as 70% of executives look for a version of themselves when hiring.”

Should “The Price is Right” Start Thinking BFOQ - Workplace Prof Blog
Paul Secunda, upon finding out that only men were auditioned to replace Bob Barker, wonders if being a man is a bona fide occupational qualification for the role of “The Price is Right” host. If not, he says Rosie O’Donnell could could have grounds for a sex discrimination lawsuit.

Hillary: Being a Woman Is Non-Issue - Wall Street Journal’s The Juggle
In light of Hillary Clinton’s downplaying of her gender in last week’s CNN/YouTube debate, Sara Schaefer Muñoz asks, “If women want to get ahead in business, are there cases in which emphasizing so-called female qualities — like compassion or a better understanding of female clients — help? Or are females more likely to advance if they make their gender a non-issue?”

Michael Moore’s Sicko and Some Thoughts About Ethical Compensation Practices - KnowHR Blog
“How in the hell can someone create a bonus structure that rewards people for denying legitimate claims? I’m not talking about bogus claims here. I’m not talking about a company’s right to make money — I definitely think they should. I’m not talking about good bonus structures. I’m talking about creating bonus and pay structures that encourage unethical behavior.” Including a comment from Dr. Linda Peeno, who appears in the movie.

Charting the Future of College Affirmative Action: Legal Victories, Continuing Attacks, and New Research - The Civil Rights Project
“The Civil Rights Project… says that the Supreme Court’s 2003 decision upholding race-conscious admissions policies at the University of Michigan’s law school should have been seen as a green light to colleges to continue considering students’ race and ethnicity for the sake of promoting diversity. Instead, the report argues, critics of affirmative action — including many conservative advocacy groups and officials in the Bush administration — have “attempted to interpret the law as if they had won the case” and have managed to pressure many colleges to quietly abandon policies and programs that were within the bounds of the law.” (via The Chronicle of Higher Education News Blog and Workplace Blog)

Nearly Ten Percent of Companies Have Fired Bloggers, Survey Claims - Wired.com
Paul Secunda says, “I am not surprised as companies appear to be finally becoming aware of the damage a lone blogger can do other employees and to a company’s image and reputation. I would expect blog-related discipline in the work place to continue to increase to the level at which employees are now being punished for personal phone calls, improper internet use, and inappropriate emails.”

blog judgment - Ask a Manager
An employee mentions her blog when interviewing for a job and eventually gets hired. Her manager occasionally reads the blog and one day finds a complaint about himself.

Recommended Reading is a weekly feature where we link to some of our favorite workplace-related blog posts and articles. If you would like to suggest a link to Erica, please email [email protected]