Our office environment is very casual and my boss sometimes makes discriminatory jokes against women. Is this against the law?

Question:  My boss passed me over for a promotion and gave it to a man who has a fraction of my experience and has only been with the company for six months.  My boss regularly makes sexual jokes and insinuates that women are not as smart as men.  He discriminates against women and objectifies them at work.  What can I do to stop this behavior?

Response:  If you truly believe that you were passed over for a promotion because your boss discriminated against you, you may want to contact several workplace discrimination lawyers in your area to discuss the merits of a case against your employer.  US civil rights law makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate based solely protected classifications, such as age, religion and gender.  Since the sexual discrimination has already occurred, you should file a lawsuit as soon as possible for the best opportunity of getting a favorable outcome and/or sexual harassment settlement.  Sexual harassment in the workplace can come in the form of comments and jokes that are inappropriate and sexual discrimination and harassment can easily come in the form of being denied a promotion or career advancement.  In order to prove a claim of sexual discrimination, your attorney will have to gather all of the facts and build a case around your specific circumstances.  If your goal is to stop the sexual discrimination from continuing, your attorney can help you figure out the best steps to take.

Answered by D. Nicole Rosen

Additional Resources:

• Sexual Discrimination - EEOC
• Filing a Charge of Employment Discrimination

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