Discrimination Law

Depression and the ADA According to the EEOC

the situation Mental health conditions, including depression and PTSD, can trigger protection under the ADA. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees based upon these conditions and also must provide reasonable accommodations to employees as necessary. But what does this mean in reality?

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What Exactly is National Origin Discrimination?

the situation National origin discrimination can be a bit tricky for employers-what exactly does it mean?  Does it just have to do with the country in which one was born?  What about people that share a language or culture, but not necessarily a country of origin?  And how does race come into play?

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Federal Court Allows EEOC’s Sexual Orientation Discrimination Claim to Go Forward

the situation The EEOC has definitively targeted harassment and discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation, taking the position that sexual orientation is covered by Title VII.  And back in March, the EEOC filed a lawsuit against an employer in Pennsylvania in one of the first lawsuits brought by the EEOC alleging sexual orientation […]

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Can Racial Statements of a Non-Decisionmaker Support a Discrimination Claim?

the situation An employee is terminated after he gets into some verbal disputes with some other co-worker.  He claims that the disputes all relate back to some inappropriate racial statements and discriminatory animus of a co-worker, who he alleges had an impact on the decision to terminate him, although clearly was not in charge of […]

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Requiring Transgender Employee to Use Gender-Neutral Bathroom Found to Violate Title VII

the situation An employee informs you that he is transgender and is in the process of transitioning to a man.  Based on concerns about other employees’ reactions, you inform him that he can no longer use the female restrooms, but also cannot use the male restrooms. Instead, he must only use the single occupancy gender-neutral […]

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Can’t I Do Something About These Unfounded Discrimination Claims?

the situation Your employee brings a claim of discrimination against your company which you believe is completely meritless. If you pursue a malicious prosecution charge against her, could you face a claim of retaliation?

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Don’t Tread on Me Flag Considered Racist?

the situation You have an employee that frequently wears a shirt displaying the “Don’t Tread on Me” (also known as the Gadsden flag).  Another employee complains of discrimination, claiming that this symbol is creating a hostile work environment.  Could this really be a claim?

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Half a Million Dollars for Pregnancy Discrimination Claim Against Chipotle

the situation One of your employees announces she is pregnant. Not long after, she complains that ever since she announced her pregnancy, her manager has been treating her differently, including not allowing her to take bathroom breaks. What sort of exposure do you have?

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Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars and Agreement to Provide Future Training To Settle One of EEOC’s First Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawsuits

the situation One of your supervisors regularly makes jokes about the sexual orientation of one of your female employees—along the lines of how he would like to turn her back into a woman and how she would look good in more feminine attire.  She complains about the supervisor’s comments.  If she is subsequently fired, could […]

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You Fired Me Because I’m an Alcoholic—Is that Discrimination?

the situation You have an employee that has suffered from severe alcoholism for some time.  After a couple of instances where he fails a breathalyzer while on the job, you fire him.  You tell him he can come back if he completes an intensive alcohol rehab program.  He enrolls in such a program and then […]

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