Race Discrimination

A janitorial company that provides services to O’hare International Airport has agreed to pay $3 million to rejected black applicants. At issue – a June 2009 lawsuit asserting race discrimination as a result of the company’s failure to hire or recruit black applicants for janitorial jobs. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination against employees on the…

Despite significant advances, race discrimination continues to be a problem at many workplaces. A recent case has determined that an employee who suffered verbal assaults such as being called the “n word” by his boss can proceed with his claim for a hostile work environment. In Taylor v. Bob-Rohr-Indy Motors, an African American car salesman – Johnny Taylor…

The House Financial Services Institution and Consumer Credit Subcommittee recently heard testimony regarding the use of credit checks and whether their use is discriminatory. At issue – whether H.R. 3149 placing more restrictions on the use of credit checks is necessary to restrain discrimination in light of current laws. Proponents argue that restricting the use of credit checks…

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has determined that the mayor of Indianapolis and other city officials can be held liable to three white police lieutenants whose constitutional rights to equal protection were violated when they were denied promotions. Black officers who ranked lower on the eligibility list were promoted instead – giving rise…

A recent Seventh Circuit opinion held that honoring a patient’s racist request constituted a violation of a black nursing assistant’s rights under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In Chaney v. Plainfield Healthcare Ctr., a nursing home patient requested that a black nursing home assistant refrain from providing her care. The nursing home honored this request. In…

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that black firefighters did not miss the deadline to file a cause of action for race discrimination against the City of Chicago, holding that reliance on a discriminatory test administered in the past can constitute a new violation of Title VII. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers are…

Many times as a condition of employment a new hire will sign an employment agreement containing a mandatory arbitration agreement. Often, these arbitration agreements provide that an arbitrator has the exclusive authority to resolve certain employment disagreements. Although arbitration may have many advantages, such as being quicker and less expensive than traditional litigation, the mandatory arbitration clauses…

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) maintains and periodically updates a Compliance Manual, an internal guide for EEOC enforcement personnel that contains the EEOC’s interpretation of Title VII and the other discrimination laws it enforces. Although the Compliance Manual does not have the force of law, it is a very helpful resource for employees and…