The U.S Supreme Court ruled on Monday, June 15, 2020, that is it illegal for an employer to fire someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Those same individuals are now protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, or sex.
What is Title VII?
Before Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, employers could deny an employee from a promotion or reject their application based on their religion, background, and many others. Once Title VII was signed into law, it became illegal for employers to discriminate against the protected class which now extends to members of LGBT.
Potential areas employers may violate:
- Recruiting / Hiring
- Promoting
- Transferring
- Training
- Disciplining
- Measuring performance
- Providing benefits
Discriminating against an employee for any of the reasons listed above can lead to legal action, penalties, and additional expenses. If you are an employer looking for guidance on the complexities of Title VII law, please give us a call at (949) 476-9400. If you are an employee and feel you have been wrongfully terminated or have been discriminated against and would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact us here.