Cities Step up to Protect Workers

State and federal laws leave many workers in the smallest of businesses unprotected from discrimination. Specifically, the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act only applies to businesses with more than 15 employees. State laws vary widely. 14 states, plus D.C., cover businesses with more than 1 employee under their anti-discrimination laws. 14 states provide no more protection than federal laws. The remaining states fall somewhere in between.

However, many cities have taken a stronger policy stance against discrimination and have passed ordinances to protect even those workers in the smallest of businesses.

For example, Louisiana has the distinction of offering the least protection to workers of any state (and somehow less protection than the federal law). Louisiana’s discrimination laws do not apply to workers who work for businesses with less than 20 employees. Pregnancy discrimination laws only apply to businesses with more than 25 employees. However, New Orleans takes a different approach. Defining an employer as a business who employs more than 8 employees, New Orleans as a city, has determined workers need more protection from discrimination than the state and federal laws provide.

Phoenix, the sixth largest city in the nation, is another example of a city offering greater protection to workers. Although Arizona offers no more protection than federal laws, defining employer as a business with more than 15 employees, Phoenix’s anti-discrimination laws protect workers who work for businesses with less than 15 employees.

In addition to expanding the definition of employer to offer more protection, some cities go even further and provide more remedies to those discriminated against. Take Seattle for example. While Washington state anti-discrimination law applies only to those working in businesses with more than 8 employees, Seattle’s anti-discrimination laws apply to all businesses with more than one employee.

Not only that, Seattle’s ordinance provides a private cause of action in state court. This is important because in some cities, a discrimination claim is handled only within the city. An employee who files a discrimination complaint against her employer makes her case to the city. In Seattle, one option is to file a complaint to the Office of Human Rights. The Office investigates the claim and determines if there is reasonable cause to believe discrimination occurred and if so, facilitates a remedy, which could include back pay and benefits.

Alternatively, an employee can choose to privately enforce the Seattle law by suing the employer in state court. This not only provides for more remedies, but also makes the case public record.

Thus, even if you work in a very small business in a state where you do not appear to be protected from anti-discrimination laws, your city’s laws may afford you a remedy.

Feminism is Not a Four Letter Word

Recently, a female marketing and business analyst for Beliefnet told the newly hired blogger Kristine Holmgren that she could not use the word “feminism” in the title of her blog because the word is offensive to Beliefnet’s readers.

Beliefnet describes itself as “the most comprehensive online resource for inspiration and spirituality. With a mission to help people find and walk a spiritual path that instills comfort, hope, strength and happiness for people who are exploring their own faith or are curious about others, Beliefnet is the leading source of information spiritual information presented without a defined editorial point-of-view. Whether you’re looking for spirituality, health and wellness, entertainment or more, Beliefnet has something for everyone.”

Except, of course, “feminists.” Why is this word offensive? The actual definition of feminist is people who believe in the theory of “the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes” or those who participate in “organized activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.” As Suzi Parker recently wrote in the Washington Post: “Feminism is about the opportunity for a woman to choose whatever path in her life she wants, but, also to have the same rights as her male counterparts, whether in the boardroom or the bedroom. If men feel intimidated by this modernity, it’s their problem.” That concept is probably not offensive to most reasonable people.

However, some people may not be thinking of this actual definition when they hear the word “feminism” but instead may view it as the counterpoint to chauvinist or interpret it to mean something like a “Feminazi.” The unfortunate thing here is that banning the word because it is offensive simply perpetuates the misunderstanding of the term.

More unfortunate is that some people, intimidated by this modernity, and in positions of power, do not support the equality of the sexes. This is one reason why you can google the phrase “pregnant and fired” and find new stories each day about women getting fired after they announce their pregnancy or ask for simple accommodations. It explains why “maternal wall bias” pervades work culture and that even those in professional and highly educated fields can be viewed as dead weight or undedicated to their career simply because they choose to have a family.

Feminism shouldn’t be treated as a four letter word. Most people you know are probably feminists by its actual definition.

Employers Behaving Badly

Recently updated: More Pregnant and Fired Stories

Employers behaving badly include: firefighters, Oprah Winfrey Network and according to Beliefnet the word “feminist” is offensive

State by State Discrimination Laws

If you work in a small business, particularly one with under 15 employees, you are not covered by federal anti-discrimination laws and you may not be covered by state anti-discrimination laws.

Check out the Resource page to see if you are covered in your workplace under your state’s laws.

Pregnant and Fired Resources

Here is a quick summary of state laws–it may surprise you which states provide the most protection to employees.

Most protection -Anti-Discrimination laws apply to businesses with more than 1 employee
Alaska
Arizona
Colorado
D.C.
Hawaii
Iowa
Maine
Michigan
Minnesota
Montana
New Jersey
North Dakota
Oregon
South Dakota
Vermont
Wisconsin

Least protection – Anti-Discrimination laws apply to businesses with more than 15 employees
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Louisiana*
Maryland
Mississippi
Nebraska**
Nevada
North Carolina
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Florida

*Louisiana law applies to businesses with more than 25 employees.
** Nebraska law applies to businesses with more than 20 employees.

Another great resource is Wage Project

Making Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness Real for Every American

A number of things stood out in Obama’s inauguration speech, which seemed to be a call for action, a reminder that there is work to be done and that we take justice and freedom for granted at our peril and the future of our nation’s peril.

Most strikingly, Obama stated: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Today we continue a never-ending journey, to bridge the meaning of those words with the realities of our time. For history tells us that while these truths may be self-evident, they have never been self-executing…”

We may think we have certain rights earlier generations have fought for. However, this does not actually mean everyone is enjoying these rights–or that they even apply to us in our current situations. For example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. In 1978, Title VII was amended to include pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions as part of the definition of “sex.” In other words, this amendment, known as the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, prohibits employment discrimination based upon pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. However, this federal law only applies to businesses with more than 15 employees. States and cities may offer more protections in the form of a lower numerical threshold, but many do not. Not only is there a numerical threshold for protection, these rights also need to be effectively enforced and asserted.

Although these particular battles were waged in the 60s and 70s, the fight is not over. There is still more work to be done. Obama basically said as much in his inauguration speech: “Our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers, and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts.”

We are simply not there yet. It is clearly still legal in many situations to discriminate. Not only is it legal, but it also appears to be professionally and socially acceptable. As Obama said: “That is our generation’s task – to make these words, these rights, these values – of Life, and Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness – real for every American.”