Over the past year, a perhaps surprising demographic is making waves with complaints of discrimination, harassment and retaliation: men.
Title VII applies to all workers, regardless of their sex, race or other protected characteristic. Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its unanimous Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services decision, which held that majority-group plaintiffs should not be required to provide additional evidence to show they experienced discrimination — a requirement then held by several U.S. circuit courts.
That decision, along with the second Trump administration’s focus on “illegal” diversity, equity and inclusion programs, has resulted in increasing attention on majority-group plaintiff discrimination claims, including among men.
Below, catch up on some of the recent claims that have been filed, one sizable settlement with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an unusual solicitation from the commission and some thoughts from a DEI professional on how the movement can better include a group that often feels relegated to the sidelines in such conversations.