Despite significant gains made by women and minorities across corporate America, a stubborn glass ceiling prevents them from advancing to the most powerful and highest paying positions in the workplace. For example, a recent study found that in 2017, the number of female Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) among Fortune 500 companies dwindled to just 5.4% (27 out of 500).
And the recent sex harassment scandals underscore how the dearth of women in the most senior/powerful positions in many of these companies (the glass ceiling) helps perpetuate a workplace culture in which sexual harassment is allowed to fester.
To break through the glass ceiling in the workplace, it is critical to know your rights and how to overcome the defenses that employers typically rely upon to defend glass ceiling discrimination cases. To help navigate the legal issues surrounding glass ceiling/promotion discrimination claims, the employment discrimination attorneys at Zuckerman Law issued Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Tips for Combatting Promotion Discrimination.
Cracking the glass ceiling requires that you know your rights and options
The glass ceiling is, unfortunately, an all too common experience for female and minority employees. If you have been denied a promotion based on your gender, race, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristic, is critical to know your rights and formulate an effective strategy to combat glass ceiling discrimination.
For example, deadlines for filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) about the promotion denial apply, and failing to meet those deadlines could waive a claim. And your company may have policies about how to internally report harassment and discrimination. Finally, there are many federal, state, and local laws that may offer additional remedies.
“Plain English” answers to common questions about promotion discrimination
The employment discrimination attorneys at Zuckerman Law recently published a guide that lays out answers to common questions asked by employees who hit the glass ceiling at work.
The guide provides “plain English” answers to common questions about promotion discrimination, including:
- What steps can I take to combat glass ceiling discrimination?
- How do I prove I suffered glass ceiling discrimination?
- Who is considered a similarly situated employee?
- How do I show I’m better (or at least as) qualified as the selected candidate?
- Remedies for glass ceiling discrimination
- Class action versus individual cases in the glass ceiling context
- What should I do if I’m retaliated against for complaining about glass ceiling discrimination?
- What is an EEOC discrimination charge and what deadlines apply to filing one?
- Arbitration and why it matters if you signed an arbitration agreement
- Partners and executives: are they employees or employers?
About the author
Eric Bachman, Chair of the Firm’s Discrimination Practice, has substantial experience litigating precedent-setting individual and class action discrimination cases. His wins include a $100 million settlement in a disparate impact Title VII class action and a $16 million class action settlement against a major grocery chain. The Attorney General awarded Bachman the Distinguished Service Award, as well as other commendations. Having served as Special Litigation Counsel in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and as lead or co-counsel in numerous jury trials, Bachman is trial-tested and ready to fight for you to obtain the relief that you deserve.
Bachman writes frequently on topics related to promotion discrimination, harassment, and other employment discrimination issues at the Glass Ceiling Discrimination Blog, which the ABA Journal recently named a top legal blog.
U.S. News and Best Lawyers® have named Zuckerman Law a Tier 1 firm in Litigation – Labor and Employment in the Washington DC metropolitan area.
Combatting Glass Ceiling Discrimination
We hope that our guide provides a helpful overview of key concepts related to glass ceiling discrimination, but the guide is not legal advice and you should consult an attorney about your specific situation. We relish the opportunity to fight hard for victims of discrimination to obtain relief for them and to break down unlawful barriers in the workplace.
Contact us today to find out how we can help you. To schedule a preliminary consultation, click here or call us at (202) 769-1681 or (202) 262-8959.
