Most people are at least familiar with the name of the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) even if they’re not familiar with the protections that it extends.
This federal legislation affords Americans many protections from discrimination, including that based on a person’s sexual orientation, religion, gender, disability, national origin and race (among others). You may find it interesting to know that these protections also extend to protect worker victims of sexual assault, domestic violence or stalking, as well.
How Title VII protects the victims of violence
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) clarified in a 2012 report how Title VII prohibits employers from terminating their workers after learning that they were a domestic violence victim or that they’d procured a protection order against a partner.
This protection is necessary because employers have been known to fire victimized employees over concerns that their abusive partner or stalker will cause “drama” or hassles in their workplace. In fact, many domestic abusers purposefully will harass their victims at work, hoping to get them fired as a form of control.
That same report chronicled how this federal legislation outlawed on-the-job sexual harassment. It spells out how it’s a violation of Title VII if an employer fails to take any action or terminates an employee after reporting sexual harassment to their supervisor. This federal law also makes it unlawful for an employer to demote or reassign a worker who says their supervisor sexually assaulted them.
Exercising your rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Countless people end up facing unwanted job changes after reporting sexual harassment or domestic violence. Many don’t realize that Title VII makes their San Diego employer’s actions unlawful.
If you believe your Title VII rights were violated by your employer after you were a victim of assault, domestic violence or stalking, take action. Speak to an experienced attorney about your legal options. You may have more recourse than you realize.