Opinion ID: 756728
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Plant Operator Position

Text: 8 In September 1995, Thomas applied for a plant operator position. Donnie McFerrin (McFerrin), who made the hiring decision, told Thomas that he could not select him for the position because company policy prohibited married people from working together, and Smith already worked in that department. McFerrin stated that Gingras had informed him of this policy when he spoke with Gingras about the open position. Smith also applied for the plant operator position. McFerrin selected John McNally (McNally), a white employee, for the plant operator position, even though he had three months less seniority than Smith. 9 Smith believed that McFerrin's decision to hire McNally was motivated by discrimination on the basis of both gender and race, and as a result, she filed a charge of discrimination with the EEOC on October 12, 1995. Although Thomas did not file a charge of discrimination, he assisted Smith in filing her charge.