Workers in Detroit can be discriminated against and even lose their employment for a vast array of reasons. While harassment about race, gender, national origin and a number of other issues can arise, one less well-known problem that can come up is workplace discrimination about a person’s weight. Since Michigan is the only state in the union that protects employees against being discriminated against because of their weight, those who believe they have been subjected to this form of discrimination need to understand how to move forward with a legal filing.
A woman who worked as a manager at a Coach store has filed a lawsuit against the company for discriminating against her and dismissing her because of her weight. The 35-year-old woman worked at the company for 10 years. During that time, she gained more than 100 pounds. She states that managers at the store made comments regarding her weight gain. They told her to begin watching a popular weight loss show and also made comments about her diet.
The company says that she was dismissed because of her performance in her job. In the lawsuit, it is alleged that the woman’s manager conceded that her weight was a consideration in her dismissal. The woman who filed the lawsuit is alleging that she lost her job because of her weight gain and cites as evidence the statements and comments of her co-workers and bosses.
There can be numerous reasons why an employee feels he or she has been discriminated against on the job. They can be passed over for a job or fired from one for these factors. Those who have been unlawfully discriminated against need to know that they have rights and can file a case to recover compensation or even be re-hired at their job. Whether the discrimination is due to race, age, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, religious affiliation, disability, pregnancy and more, it is key to know one’s rights.
The state and federal laws regarding workplace discrimination can be very complicated, and it can be difficult for workers to gather strong evidence to support their case. Those who feel they were wrongly discriminated against at work can speak to an attorney with experience in workplace discrimination to learn about how the law may apply to their circumstances.
Source: Refinery29.com, “Coach Sued For Alleged Weight Discrimination By Ex-Employee,” Lindsey Stanberry, Oct. 22, 2015