Employment Discrimination Law under Title VII »

MARGARET C. JASPER is an attorney engaged in the general practice of law in South Salem, New York, concentrating in the areas of personal injury and entertainment law. Ms. Jasper holds a Juris Doctor degree from Pace University School of Law, White Plains, New York, is a member of the New York and Connecticut bars, and is certified to practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Ms. Jasper has been appointed to the law guardian panel for the Family Court of the State of New York, is a member of a number of professional organizations and associations, and is a New York State licensed real estate broker operating as Jasper Real Estate, in South Salem, New York. Margaret Jasper maintains a website at http://www.JasperLawOffice.com. In 2004, Ms. Jasper successfully argued a case before the New York Court of Appeals, which gives mothers of babies who are stillborn due to medical negligence the right to bring a legal action and recover emotional distress damages. This successful appeal overturned a 26-year old New York case precedent, which previously prevented mothers of stillborn babies to sue their negligent medical providers.

If you ever questioned whether your employment rights have been violated, Employment Discrimination Law under Title VII can help you get the facts on exactly what your rights are as an employee. More fully discussed in this publication, Title VII prohibits discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, and other aspects of employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Now revised and updated by Margaret C. Japser, this second edition offers the latest statutes, resource directories, and other pertinent information and data regarding employment discrimination.

Ideal for employees or anyone who wants to broaden their understanding of employment discrimination, this new edition proves to be a one-stop comprehensive resource.

About the Author     ix
Introduction     xiii
Overview of Discrimination in the Workplace
History of Employment Discrimination Law     1
Passage of Title VII     1
Inclusion of the Sex Amendment     2
Strengthening the Remedies     2
What is Employment Discrimination?     2
Employment Discrimination Under Title VII     3
Covered Employers     4
Prohibited Actions     4
Terms of Employment     4
Harassment     4
Retaliation     4
Stereotyping     5
Association with Covered Individual     5
Retaliation     5
Covered Employees     5
Protected Activities     5
Opposition     5
Participation     6
Reasonable Accommodation     6
Retaliation Statistics     6
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission     6
Statutory Jurisdiction     7
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964     7
The Civil Rights Act of 1991     7
The Equal Pay Act of 1963     8
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967     8
Title I of theAmericans with Disabilities Act of 1990     8
Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973     8
Notice Requirement     8
Contact Information     9
Additional Anti-Discrimination Legislation     9
Multinational Employers     9
Covered Employers     9
Covered Employees     10
Employees of Non-U.S. Employers in the United States     10
Non-Citizens Working Outside the United States     10
U.S. Citizens Working Outside the United States     10
How to Determine Who is a U.S. Employer     10
How to Determine Whether a Company is "Controlled" by a U.S. Employer     11
Foreign Laws Defense     11
Protecting Your Rights in the Workplace     11
Reaching an Informal Resolution with Your Employer     12
Filing a Discrimination Charge
In General     13
Required Information     13
Time Limitations     14
Fair Employment Practices Agencies     14
Processing the Discrimination Charge     15
Resolving the Discrimination Charge     15
Filing a Private Lawsuit     16
Remedies     16
Compensatory and Punitive Damages      17
Notice to Employees     17
Corrective Action     17
Filing a Complaint with a Federal Agency     17
EEO Counseling     18
Alternative Dispute Resolution     18
Filing a Complaint     19
Investigation     19
Offer of Resolution     20
Amending the Complaint     20
Dismissing the Complaint     20
Discovery     21
Administrative Hearing     21
Final Agency Action     22
Filing an Appeal with the EEOC     23
Filing a Civil Action     24
Class Complaints     24
The EEOC Mediation Program
History of the EEOC Mediation Program     27
What is Mediation?     28
Eligibility     28
Confidentiality     28
Representation     29
Enforceability     29
The Mediation Process     29
Using Mediation at the Conciliation Stage     30
Advantages of Mediation     30
The EEOC "Referral Back" Mediation Pilot Program     31
Participation Criteria     31
Pilot Program Procedure     32
Confidentiality Agreements      32
Settlement Agreements     32
Universal Agreement to Mediate (UAM)     33
Benefits of a UAM     33
Signatories     33
Discrimination on the Basis of Race or Color
In General     35
Race-Related Characteristics and Conditions     35
Pre-Employment Inquiries Concerning Race or Color     36
Job Requirements     36
Compensation and Other Employment Terms     37
Segreation and Classification of Employees     37
Harassment     37
Retaliation     38
Statistics     38
Discrimination on the Basis of Religion
In General     39
What Constitutes Religious Belief or Practice?     39
Pre-Employment Inquiries     40
Reasonable Accommodation     40
Alternative Reasonable Accommodations     41
Undue Hardship     41
Union Dues     42
Mandatory "New Age" Training Programs     42
Harassment     42
Retaliation     42
Statistics     43
Discrimination on the Basis of Sex
In General     45
Sex as a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification     45
Gender-Oriented State Laws      46
Separate Lines of Progression and Seniority Systems     47
Discrimination Against Married Women     47
Advertising Job Opportunities     48
Employment Agencies     48
Pre-employment Inquiries     48
Fringe Benefits     48
Statistics     49
Sexual Harassment     50
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Standards     50
Standard of Conduct     50
The Reasonable Female Employee Standard     50
The Severe and Pervasive Standard     51
The Unwelcome Conduct Standard     51
The Sexually Offensive Atmosphere     52
The Hostile Work Environment     52
Statistics     52
Pregnancy Discrimination     52
Health Insurance     53
Fringe Benefits     54
Statistics     54
The Equal Pay Act of 1963     54
Skill     54
Effort     54
Responsibility     54
Working Conditions     55
Establishment     55
Covered Employers     55
Affirmative Defenses     55
Statistics     55
Discrimination on the Basis of National Origin
In General     57
English-Only Rule     57
Denial of Employment Based on Accent     58
Harassment     58
Discriminatory Immigration-Related Practices     59
The National Security Exception     59
The Bona Fide Occupational Qualification Exception     59
Citizenship Requirements     59
Employer Selection Procedures     59
Statistics     60
Discrimination on the Basis of Age
In General     61
Covered Employers     61
Adea Protections     62
Apprenticeship Programs     62
Job Notices and Advertisements     62
Pre-Employment Inquiries     62
Benefits     62
Exceptions to Coverage     63
Waiver of Adea Rights     63
Burden of Proof in an Adea Case     64
Statistics     64
Discrimination on the Basis of Disability
In General     65
Covered Employers     65
Prohibited Practices     65
Covered Persons     66
Disability Defined     66
Qualified Individual     67
Essential Functions     67
Reasonable Accommodations     68
Disclosure     69
Undue Hardship     69
Direct Threat     69
Accessibility     70
Preferential Treatment     70
Tax Credits and Deductions     71
Recordkeeping Requirement     71
Notice Requirement     71
Medical Examinations     71
Drug and Alcohol Addiction     72
Statistics     73
Additional Basis of Discrimination
In General     75
Federal Protection     75
The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (CSRA)     75
Executive Order 13087 - Sexual Orientation Discrimination     76
Executive Order 13152 - Status as a Parent     76
Executive Order 11478     76
Filing a Discrimination Complaint     77
State and Local Laws     77
California Statute     77
Perceived Sexual Orientation     78
Statute of Limitations     78
Relationship to Other Laws     78
Damages     78
Appendices
Directory of EEOC Offices     79
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964     85
Selected Provisions - the Civil Rights Act of 1991      115
Selected Provisions - the Equal Pay Act of 1963     121
Selected Provisions - the Age Discrimination In Employment Act (ADEA) of 1967     133
Selected Provisions - the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990     145
Notice of Right to Sue (Issued on Request)     157
Directory of EEOC Mediation Program - Field and District Offices     159
Table of EEOC Mediation Statistics (Fiscal Years 1999-2003)     163
Universal Agreement to Mediate     165
List of Signatories to the EEOC National Universal Agreement to Mediate     167
Table of Race-Based Discrimination Charges and Resolutions (2000-2006)     171
Table of Religion-Based Discrimination Charges and Resolutions (2000-2006)     173
Table of Sex-Based Discrimination Charges and Resolutions (2000-2006)     175
Table of Sexual Harassment Charges and Resolutions (2000-2006)     177
Table of Pregnancy-Based Discrimination Charges and Resolutions (2000-2006)     179
Table of Equal Pay Act Charges and Resolutions (2000-2006)     181
Table of National Origin-Based Discrimination Charges and Resolutions (2000-2006)     183
Table of Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) Charges and Resolutions (2000-2006)     185
Table of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Discrimination Charges and Resolutions (2000-2006)     187
Glossary     189
Bibliography     197