Of course, your company wouldn’t intentionally do anything discriminatory. But should you end up on the losing end of an employee claim, it’s likely going to cost you a lot more than it once would have.

A lot more.

The median award for employment-related claims skyrocketed by 60% over 2008.

The new number? $326,640.

That scary stat comes from a new survey by Jury Verdict Research.

Here’s where companies of all sizes and in all industries are most vulnerable now:

• The claim where your company will most likely pay the most: retaliation. The median award was $225,000.
• The claim your business will pay the most for if it goes to a jury: age or disability discrimination.
• The claim your company is most likely to get hit with: sex or race discrimination. They remain the most common.

The new year is a great time to review your policies with all supervisors to ensure everyone understands what’s OK and what’s not in terms of managing people.