An introduction to forms of discrimination commonly encountered in the workplace, including discrimination based on age, gender, pregnancy, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, and sexual orientation, as well as sexual harassment and same-sex sexual harassment. Features sample policies and frequently asked questions to quickly bring you up to speed in this complex area of employment law.
This latest version brings updated resources within your immediate reach - for fast, accurate, and practical answers to your questions.
This latest version brings updated resources within your immediate reach - for fast, accurate, and practical answers to your questions.
Highlights from the many issues addressed in this edition include
- recent case law clarifying the burdens of proof and production applicable in employment discrimination cases;
- enactment of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, making predispute mandatory arbitration provisions unenforceable in sexual assault and sexual harassment cases arising after March 3, 2022;
- a discussion of employer practices and motives at issue in age discrimination cases;
- recent cases addressing religious discrimination claims and what constitutes an 'undue hardship' for an employer presented with a request for religious accommodation;
- recent examples of 'sex plus' discrimination cases involving a combination of gender discrimination and some other factor, such as age or children;
- enactment of the Speak Out Act, which invalidated predispute nondisclosure and nondisparagement clauses relating to allegations of sexual assault and sexual harassment;
- the scope of the definition of disability for purposes of G.L. c. 151B;
- distinctions between the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and G.L. c. 151B on the law governing the reassignment of disabled employees;
- circumstances under which an employer may be liable for sexual harassment by its employees; and
- enactment of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act in 2023 (accommodation for pregnancy-related limitations that would not qualify as a 'disability' for purposes of the ADA) and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers (PUMP) Act in 2022.
Table of Contents
Chapter 01 - Overview of Employment DiscriminationDavid Conforto, Esq.,
Conforto Law Group
Alexandra H. Deal, Esq.,
Paik, Brewington & Deal, LLP
Chapter 02 - Age Discrimination in Employment
Robert S. Mantell, Esq.,
Law Office of Robert S. Mantell
Sean P. O'Connor, Esq.,
Morgan, Brown & Joy LLP
Checklist 2.1 - Age Discrimination Strategy Checklist for Defense Attorneys
Chapter 03 - Gender Discrimination
Gavriela M. Bogin-Farber, Esq.,
Segal Roitman LLP
Alida Bográn-Acosta, Esq.,
Tufts University Office of Equal Opportunity
Gwen Nolan King, Esq.,
Nolan King Law
James S. Weliky, Esq.,
Messing, Rudavsky & Weliky, PC
Chapter 04 - Disability Discrimination
Anthony S. Califano, Esq.,
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Patrick J. Hannon, Esq.,
Hartley Michon Robb Hannon LLP
Michael E. Steinberg, Esq.,
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Checklist 4.1 - Plaintiff’s Burden of Proof When Alleging Employer’s Failure to Provide Reasonable Accommodation
Checklist 4.2 - Disability Discrimination: Strategy Options for Employers
Chapter 05 - Pregnancy Discrimination
Michael L. Mason, Esq.,
Bennett & Belfort, PC
Kathleen R. O'Toole, Esq.,
Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford LLP
Emily J. Slaman, Esq.,
Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford LLP
Chapter 06 - Race, Ethnicity, and National Origin Discrimination
David I. Brody, Esq.,
Sherin and Lodgen LLP
Checklist 6.1 - Strategy Options for Plaintiff in Race, Ethnicity, or National Origin Discrimination Claim
Checklist 6.2 - Strategy Options for Defendant in Race, Ethnicity, or National Origin Discrimination Claim
Chapter 07 - Religious Discrimination
Sarah-Elizabeth H. Cloutier, Esq.,
Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP
Kavita M. Goyal, Esq.,
Rosen & Goyal, PC
Anne L. Josephson, Esq.,
Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP
Chapter 08 - Sexual Harassment
Puneet Dhaliwal, Esq.,
Beck Reed Riden LLP
Stephen T. Melnick, Esq.,
Littler Mendelson, PC
Ana Munoz, Esq.,
Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP
Monica R. Shah, Esq.,
Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP
Checklist 8.1 - Harassment Investigation Checklist
Exhibit 8A - MCAD Sexual Harassment Guidelines
Exhibit 8B - MCAD’S Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy
Chapter 09 - Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
Henry Gaylord, Esq.,
Burns & Levinson
Beth R. Myers, Esq.,
Burns & Levinson LLP
Authors
Author(s)Gavriela M. Bogin-Farber, Esq.
Segal Roitman LLP, Boston
Alida Bográn-Acosta, Esq.
Tufts University Office of Equal Opportunity, Medford
David I. Brody, Esq.
Sherin and Lodgen LLP, Boston
Anthony S. Califano, Esq.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Boston
Sarah-Elizabeth H. Cloutier, Esq.
Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP, Boston
David Conforto, Esq.
Conforto Law Group, BostonSherley Cruz
knoxville
Alexandra H. Deal, Esq.
Paik, Brewington & Deal, LLP, Boston
Puneet Dhaliwal, Esq.
Beck Reed Riden LLP, Boston
Henry Gaylord, Esq.
Burns & Levinson, Boston
Kavita M. Goyal, Esq.
Rosen & Goyal, PC, Andover
Patrick J. Hannon, Esq.
Hartley Michon Robb Hannon LLP, Boston
Anne L. Josephson, Esq.
Kotin, Crabtree & Strong LLP, Boston
Gwen Nolan King, Esq.
Nolan King Law, Weston
Robert S. Mantell, Esq.
Law Office of Robert S. Mantell, Somerville
Michael L. Mason, Esq.
Bennett & Belfort, PC, Cambridge
Stephen T. Melnick, Esq.
Littler Mendelson, PC, Boston
Ana Munoz, Esq.
Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP, Boston
Beth R. Myers, Esq.
Burns & Levinson LLP, Boston
Sean P. O'Connor, Esq.
Morgan, Brown & Joy LLP, Boston
Kathleen R. O'Toole, Esq.
Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford LLP, Boston
Monica R. Shah, Esq.
Zalkind, Duncan & Bernstein LLP, Boston
Emily J. Slaman, Esq.
Conn Kavanaugh Rosenthal Peisch & Ford LLP, Boston
Michael E. Steinberg, Esq.
Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Boston
James S. Weliky, Esq.
Messing, Rudavsky & Weliky, PC, Newton
