A former Amazon employee is suing the shipping giant after allegedly being discriminated against by his coworkers. The employee claims he was subjected to insulting and derogatory language from a fellow employee due to his sexuality, and was fired after reporting the coworker’s conduct. The employee is suing the company in federal court for sex discrimination and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Alleged Sex Discrimination and Retaliation
According to the lawsuit, the plaintiff, who describes himself as “not heterosexual,” was subjected to homophobic slurs and other derogatory language by a coworker. When informed of the coworker’s conduct, however, the company took no steps to curtail his actions or penalize him for his conduct. When the plaintiff lodged a complaint about it, he was allegedly fired in retaliation.
A History of Discrimination at Amazon
Unfortunately, this sort of behavior is not that out of the ordinary for Amazon. The company has faced a number of lawsuits in recent years from employees, ranging from the lowest level workers to executives at the top of the company, accusing them of discriminating against employees on the basis of race, sex, and a variety of other factors. They have also been known to engage in retaliation against employees who report this kind of misconduct.
Title VII Protections for Employees
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of race, sex, skin color, religion, or national origin. In recent years, these protections have also extended towards discrimination on the basis of sexuality and gender identity. It also protects people from retaliation by employers when they report discriminatory conduct, regardless of whether they were the original victims of the discrimination or not.
What You Should Do if You Face Discrimination
If you have been the victim of discrimination in your workplace, or you suffered retaliation due to reporting improper conduct, you may be entitled to compensation. That is why you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling discrimination and retaliation cases. They can help you review your legal options and ensure you get the justice you deserve.
Steven Mitchell Sack, the Employee’s Lawyer, is a New York employment lawyer with more than 44 years’ experience handling the many aspects of employment law. His new book, “Fired!: Protect Your Rights & FIGHT BACK If You’re Terminated, Laid Off, Downsized, Restructured, Forced to Resign or Quit,” is available in hardback, and contains valuable advice on dealing with employment and labor law issues. To purchase the book, feel free to contact Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or visit the website at legalstratpub.com. To inquire about a legal matter, please feel free to contact attorney Steven Sack at 917-371-8000 or stevensackatty@hotmail.com.
