In a groundbreaking decision hailed as a victory for workplace equality, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced a significant win following a ruling by the Supreme Court on April 17.
The ruling in Muldrow v. City of St. Louis solidified that protections under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act extend to prohibit discrimination in the lateral transfer of employees.
At the center of the case was plaintiff Jatonya Clayborn Muldrow, who alleged that the City of St. Louis discriminated against her based on her sex by denying her request for a lateral transfer.
Muldrow, a former plainclothes officer in the St. Louis Police Department, asserted that a new Intelligence Division commander sought her replacement with a male officer in 2017.
Despite her desire to remain in her role, the department reassigned her to another position. While her pay and rank remained unchanged, the new assignment lacked the same benefits and perks she previously enjoyed.
Initially facing hurdles at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, which required her to prove a “material employment disadvantage” from the transfer, Muldrow found vindication in the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The Court affirmed that Title VII protects employees like Muldrow from discriminatory transfers, stating that employees need not demonstrate the significance of the disadvantage to prevail in a discrimination suit.
Deputy Director of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project, Ming-Qi Chu, lauded the decision as a monumental win for workers, emphasizing that courts have often dismissed discrimination claims under a heightened standard that contradicts the statute’s text.
However, Chu highlighted potential opposition to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, cautioning against attempts to undermine workplace equality efforts through fearmongering tactics.
She asserted that such programs aim to improve employment decision-making processes and bridge opportunity gaps among workers, rather than disadvantage any particular group.
Despite ongoing efforts to dismantle DEI programs across various sectors, the Supreme Court’s ruling underscores a commitment to ensuring workplace equality.
The decision reaffirms that the severity of discrimination claims does not need to meet a specific threshold, signaling a significant step forward in promoting fairness and inclusivity in employment practices.
