Detroit Employment Law Blog

The 36-year-old former manager who once worked at both a Warren and Southfield Chase bank was awarded $370,000 at the conclusion of an arbitration session earlier this month.

In the man's wrongful termination lawsuit that was filed in federal court in Detroit soon after his firing in July of 2017, the Dearborn resident chronicled what he believed resulted in his dismissal from his job.

Many people working in Michigan wonder why it is so difficult for them to identify workplace discrimination. In some cases, victims need their jobs and simply wish or hope that they are imagining the discrimination. Other times, workers know deep down, but they choose to put the matter out of their minds. Again, the need to work and earn an income often means ignoring any suspicions workers may have about workplace discrimination.

One of the most tragic forms of discrimination at work involves unfair treatment of employees because of their religious beliefs and practices. While it might be difficult for others to understand a faith outside of their own, unfair treatment in a work situation is still wrong. In an effort to help potential victims identify religious discrimination at work, below are four examples of wrongful behaviors.

• Harassing you about your religion (e.g., making derogatory comments)
• Segregating you from others because of your religious practices (e.g., giving you a position away from the public because of religious attire)
• Denying you reasonable religious accommodations (e.g., not allowing a Muslim woman to wear a headscarf)
• Forcing you to participate in religious activities (e.g., demanding that Jewish employees participate in Christmas activities)

A human resources coordinator, who worked for the Detroit Foundation Hotel up until last year, has filed a discrimination lawsuit against her former employer. In her federal court filing, she outlines how the hotel's management referred to her other African-American colleagues using derogatory language. She also notes that they weren't given promotions because of their skin color.

The boutique hotel where the plaintiff worked is located in the space that formerly housed the Detroit Fire Headquarters. The iconic downtown building was restored by developers and re-opened to the public in 2017. A year later, it was named Time Magazine's World 100 Greatest Places of 2018.

All over the Detroit region and other Michigan cities, more and more employees are standing up against workplace discrimination. This is a sign of growing awareness about these issues across the nation. However, it is crucial for workers to understand that discrimination can occur before employment even begins.

Employers must conduct the application and interview process without purposely or even accidentally singling out potential workers in a negative way. Protected categories for employees include race, religion, age, pregnancy and gender.