Question

Alpha Corp. is a multinational firm, headquartered in Maryland, but with subsidiaries it wholly owns all over the world. Jackie works for one of its subsidiaries in the Ukraine. Jackie is a U.S. citizen, but has worked in the Ukraine subsidiary for over ten years. Over the years, her managers have made sexist comments in passing towards some of the females that are at the associate level. Mostly they are comments that “it’s a waste to train women as they are just going to get pregnant and want a lighter schedule once the babies arrive,” or, that women would be “too emotional” to make the tough management decisions. Note, that these comments are mostly made in break rooms between the male managers, and they try to hush their remarks when they see women passing by.

Jackie is up for a promotion to management. She’s had excellent work reviews the whole time she is there. However, she finds out that she is pregnant, and she has asked for maternity leave (which the company offers 2 months paid leave for all employees). When she comes back to work after maternity leave, she finds out that Paul, who has only worked there for 5 years, received promotion to management.

Please answer the following question: Does Jackie have a discrimination claim she could make against Alpha Corp. U.S.? Please fully explain the claim she could make, as well as the process she would have to go through, and make sure to provide any defenses Alpha Corp. could try to make.

Answer 1

The United States' equal employment opportunity laws (U.S. EEO laws) consist of the Title VII, the ADEA, and the ADA also prohibit offensive conduct that creates a hostile work environment based on race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, and disability. Employers are required to take appropriate steps to prevent and correct unlawful harassment and employees are responsible for reporting harassment at an early stage to prevent its escalation. She can file a charge against the organization under this act and wait for them to take legal against the firm under this law. She would then have to go through the trial wherein she would need to make claims regarding the ways in which she was discriminated against including the sexist statement made by her managers.