In terms of discrimination and harassment, the workplace environment has seemingly come a long way from what it was in the past. However discrimination and harassment continue to be a reality for too many workers. All people in the workplace have rights and deserve protection if anyone violates their rights.
A former cast member of the hit musical “Hamilton,” who is a black, transgender, nonbinary individual filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the parent company that owns the show. The cast member requested that the company set up a gender-neutral dressing room because they were allegedly experiencing discrimination in male dressing rooms.
According to the worker’s complaint, their contract was not renewed. According to the former cast member, during the years that they appeared in the show, there were several incidents of discrimination and harassment from other cast members. The cast member felt that the company’s management did not protect them when other cast members allegedly displayed discriminatory behavior.
Employers’ responsibilities and employees’ rights in the workplace
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, businesses should fully support equal opportunity employment. That includes discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. All employees should be treated fairly and should be given equal work opportunities. Employees should be judged only by their work performance and their ability to do the job well. Discrimination based on gender identity is a form of sex discrimination.
What can workers do?
Standing up against unlawful discrimination can be difficult and sometimes frightening. It’s important for workers to know that they have protections under the law. Workers who feel they have been illegally discriminated against in the workplace can speak to an experienced employment law attorney about their rights and legal options.