“Freeway Therapy” Is a Form of Employment Discrimination
Employer discrimination is when an employer treats you less favorably because of a protected characteristic like your race or gender, instead of because of your misconduct or poor performance. Retaliation is when an employer takes an adverse action to punish you for engaging in a legally protected activity, such as taking family leave or complaining about discrimination. Transferring you to a different work location or changing your work schedule or duties may constitute an adverse action if you did not request the change.
A police lieutenant of a California city recently received a settlement in a discrimination lawsuit. She was successful in her work and even acted as police chief temporarily; during the police chief’s absence, the plaintiff led the city’s police department through several crises in the city. When a new sheriff was elected, he seemed to have it in for her and for other women in law enforcement. He allegedly spread false rumors about the plaintiff having a romantic relationship with a local official. When the plaintiff complained, her supervisor transferred her to work in a faraway location, a punishment known among California law enforcement as “freeway therapy.”
Only about a quarter of the plaintiff’s settlement was for lost income; the rest was for noneconomic damages. She donated most of it to support female police officers and young women studying to pursue law enforcement careers.
Speak With a Los Angeles Employment Discrimination Lawyer
A Los Angeles employment discrimination and retaliation lawyer can represent you in employment discrimination cases if your employer reassigned you to a distant or undesirable work location in response to your complaints about discriminatory treatment. Contact Litigation, P.C. in Redondo Beach, California to discuss your situation or call (424)284-2401.
Source:
theacorn.com/articles/seetoo-wins-lawsuit-against-l-a-sheriff/