Reverse discrimination is discrimination against a member of a majority group – typically it is discrimination against a white person. Federal Civil Rights laws prohibit employers from discriminating against an employee in the terms and conditions of employment because of the employee’s race. See Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, et seq., (“Section 1981”) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. (“Title VII”). Section 1981 and Title VII apply to reverse discrimination cases in which a member of the white majority alleges that she suffered an adverse employment action on account of her race.
In other words, it is illegal for an employer to make a race-based decision. It does not matter if the person being discriminated against is white. If the person’s employer decides to not promote the employee; does not pay or treat the employee the same as other minority employees; fails to hire the white employee; and/or fires the white employee, then the employer has broken the law.
Race cannot be a “determinative factor” in any employment decision. You can sue if your employer treated you differently because of your race, even if your race is white.
If you are a white employee who believes you have been discriminated against, contact Klaproth Law for a free, confidential consultation.
