Employment Discrimination Law-Overview & History

• Author: Mark A. Shank/John P. Hagan
• Pages: 697-714

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CHAPTER 17

EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

LAW—OVERVIEW & HISTORY

BY MARK A. SHANK AND JOHN P. HAGAN

17:1. HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

17:2. GENERAL RULE: EMPLOYMENT AT-WILL

17:3. DISCRIMINATION DEFINED

A. Discrimination Claims Generally Limited to “Ultimate Employment Decisions”

B. Harassment Claims Must Be Connected to a Legally-Protected Category

C. Identifying the Decision Maker

17:4. TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964

A. Coverage

B. Employment Status

C. No Individual Liability

D. An Individual Can Have More Than One Employer for Title VII Purposes

1. Single Integrated Enterprise

2. Joint Employers

E. Necessity of Filing a Charge of Discrimination Before Going to Court

1. Generally, 300-Day Limit in Texas for Filing EEOC Charge

a. Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

2. Elements of Charge

3. The EEOC Charge Defines/Limits the Scope of Any Subsequent Lawsuit

4. Post-Filing Procedures and the Importance of Conciliation

F. Methods of Proving Intentional Discrimination

1. Circumstantial Evidence Pursuant to Modified McDonnell Douglas Approach

2. Direct Evidence

3. Pattern and Practice

G. Disparate Impact

H. Remedies

1. Back Pay

2. Reinstatement

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3. Front Pay

4. Compensatory Damages

5. Punitive Damages

6. Cap on Compensatory and Punitive Damages

7. Attorneys’ Fees, Expert Fees, Interest and Costs

17:5. RECONSTRUCTION-ERA LEGISLATION

A. Civil Rights Act of 1866, a/k/a “Section 1981”

1. Section 1981’s Definition of “Race”

2. Method of Proving Discrimination Under Section 1981 Is the Same as for Title VII

3. Notable Advantages of Section 1981 Over Title VII

a. No Requirement to File EEOC Charge of Discrimination

b. No Damage Caps

c. Longer Limitations Period

d. No Need for “Employee” Status

4. Notable Disadvantages of Section 1981

a. Private Entities Only; No Government Employees

b. Intentional Discrimination Only

c. Section 1981 Does Not Cover All Categories Protected by Title VII

B. Civil Rights Act of 1871

1. Section 1983

2. Section 1985(3)

17:6. OTHER FEDERALLY-PROTECTED CATEGORIES

A. Age

B. Disability

1. The Statute as Originally Enacted Proved Ineffective

2. The ADA as Amended

C. Serious Health Condition