This case is a great illustration of the potential for discrimination on the basis of two or more protected characteristics. This court's treatment of the issue is unusually favorable for plaintiffs.
Comments are welcome.
249a.06 Hafford claimed a violation of Title VII based on a hostile work environment because of his race and his religion. Hafford was an African-American and a member of the Muslim religion. The interesting twist in this case is the way that the 6th Circuit dealt with the combined claims of racial and religious harassment. There was sufficient evidence to support a claim of racial harassment, that supervisors and co-workers engaged in a pattern of racial slurs and physical threats, and that the employer did not take prompt and effective corrective action. The theory of a hostile-environment claim is that the cumulative effect of ongoing harassment is abusive.