The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently announced a lawsuit filed against Performance Food Group, Inc. (“PFG”), one of the nation’s largest foodservice distributors. The lawsuit alleges that PFG,and its predecessor, subsidiary, and affiliate companies, engaged in widespread discrimination against women, including flatly refusing to hire or promote women to fill certain positions within the company.
As one example, the lawsuit alleges that employee Julie Lawrence was denied a promotion because of her gender. Lawrence was qualified to fill the position and urged by her direct supervisor to apply. The supervisor then gave her resume to a corporate vice president for consideration. According to the EEOC, the vice president flatly refused to consider Lawrenceand stated that he was not interested in considering any application from a woman – a response that made no sense considering Lawrence’s qualifications, the recommendation of her supervisor, and the company policy of “hiring from within.”
Unfortunately, the vice president’s response to Lawrence’s resume was not an isolated incidentor an uncommon attitude within the company, the EEOC alleges. According to the complaint, PFG senior vice presidents, as well as other high-ranking management officials, professed a general bias against employing women and engaged in discriminatory conduct that encouraged favoritism toward male employees.
Both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Ohio R.C. § 4112.02(A) make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an applicant for promotion or hiring based on the applicant’s sex. It is rare for an employer to engage in the kind of blatant discrimination alleged in this case, but the specter of discrimination arises when an otherwise qualified candidate is turned away under dubious circumstances. Sex or gender discrimination in the workplace is not only inappropriate, it is illegal.
If you feel that you are being discriminated based on your gender, then call the right attorney.
Discrimination against women includes being harassed, fired, wrongfully terminated, discriminated against, demoted, wrongfully disciplined, and denied wages. When you call the right attorney to schedule a free and confidential consultation at 866-797-6040, you will meet with an attorney from Spitz, The Employee’s Law Firm to discuss wrongful discrimination claims and help you determine the best way to pursue your gender discrimination claims.
Disclaimer:
The materials available at this employment law website are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. Your best option is to contact an Ohio attorney to obtain advice with respect to gender discrimination questions or any particular employment law issue. Use and access to this employment law website or any of the links contained within the site do not create an attorney-client relationship. The legal opinions expressed at or through this site are the opinions of the individual lawyer and may not reflect the opinions of Spitz, The Employee’s Law Firm or any individual attorney.