NPR Examines Growing Number Of Workplace Discrimination Lawsuits Brought By Caregivers

Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Also Included In: Caregivers / Homecare;  Men's health
Article Date: 15 Jun 2010 - 4:00 PDT

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NPR's "All Things Considered" on Thursday examined the growing number of workplace discrimination lawsuits brought by employees who act as caregivers, including women who have children.

Although there is no federal law prohibiting workplace discrimination against parents or other caregivers, the number of lawsuits by employees alleging unfair treatment has increased fourfold in the last decade, according to the Center for WorkLife Law. Cynthia Calvert of the Center for WorkLife Law said that such lawsuits are part of a growing trend. "We have more mothers in the workforce now," she said, adding, "More people have elderly parents that they need to care for, and we have more fathers actively involved in their children's lives." According to Calvert, 12% of discrimination lawsuits are filed by men, "such as a father who wants to take paternity leave and is denied the leave because the employer feels that taking care of a newborn is women's work."

Stuart Ishimaru of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said the group decided to address the issue several years ago when it first noticed the trend emerging. In 2007, EEOC issued guidance to help employers avoid discrimination lawsuits from caregivers, most of which involve women and pregnancy, "All Things Considered" reports. In addition, dozens of localities in recent years have adopted laws banning discrimination against employees described as "parents" or those with "family responsibilities," while several state legislatures have considered similar laws (Ludden, "All Things Considered," NPR, 6/10).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families.

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