Last year, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers California, ruled that when women bear the brunt of a supervisor’s bullying behavior—including screaming at employees—it can amount to illegal sex discrimination, even if the misconduct isn’t of a sexual nature. The case involved three women, Carol Christopher, Carmela Chamara, and Julie Bhend, who claimed their supervisor at the National Education Association-Alaska (NEA-Alaska) screamed and yelled at them with no provocation, often using profanity and berating them in public. The Ninth Circuit said the women could take their case to trial. But now the parties have reached a settlement, with NEA-Alaska agreeing to pay the women $750,000.
400+ pages of state-specific, easy-read reference materials at your fingertips—fully updated! Check out the Guide to Employment Law for California Employers and get up to speed on everything you need to know.
Additional Resources:
“The Step-by-Step Sexual Harassment Prevention Guide for California Employers,” a Special Report from the California Employer Advisor