We live in a progressive society that has made monumental strides in terms of achieving social equality. Unfortunately, as far as we’ve come as a society, there is still a long way to go for some people individually. We can all hope that one day the world will be completely free of prejudice and discrimination, but, at the moment, there are undeniably people out there who still engage in discriminatory conduct. If these people end up in a position of power in the workplace, they can cause real problems for those who work under them.
A police lieutenant in Delaware claims he was a victim of workplace discrimination. He was passed up for a promotion to captain. The lieutenant, a white male, claims that he was the most qualified candidate for the promotion and that the city’s African-American mayor denied him the promotion as a result of race and gender discrimination. He claims that, in addition to race and gender discrimination, he also faced retaliation for supporting the mayor’s opponent back in a 2012 primary. He further claims he was discriminated against on the basis of age.
A suit is being brought against the mayor and the city by the lieutenant, but even in the event that both are determined to be innocent of discrimination, there are employers all across the country who are not. It’s a fact that some people in positions of power let their biases get in the way of better judgment. Fortunately for residents of San Francisco, that kind of behavior does not have to go unpunished.
If you are facing discrimination in the workplace for your gender, age, race or any other protected personal trait, you could be entitled to compensation. Legal counsel that understands the law may be able to help you present a case that highlights all of the behavior you’ve had to endure and fight for what you deserve.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, “Wilmington police officer suing for discrimination,” Randall Chase, Aug. 1, 2014