Federal administration decides to discontinue legal action on Sheetz racial discrimination case following Trump's order to freeze implementation of vital civil rights strategy
Hey there! Let's dive into a lively discussion about Trump's effect on civil rights enforcement.
The Big Kahuna: President Donald Trump's administration is shaking things up by deregulating the use of a vital tool in enforcing civil rights laws – something called disparate impact liability. This move comes as part of an ambitious plan to alter the course of civil rights enforcement, aiming to annihilate diversity and inclusion practices and weaken the rights of transgender people.
Is that a golf ball, or a racial discrimination lawsuit? Yep, you guessed it right – the authorities are currently considering dropping a racial discrimination lawsuit against the Sheetz convenience store chain. This is another step in the broader Trump administration's strategy to thwart the employment of disparate impact liability.
But wait, what's disparate impact? Well, in simple terms, it's a concept recognized by the Supreme Court back in 1971. They declared that a North Carolina power plant discriminated against Black employees by requiring high school diplomas and an intelligence test for certain higher paying roles – despite these requirements being irrelevant to the jobs. This idea was later codified in Congress in 1991 and it prohibits workplaces from imposing job barriers if they disproportionately affect certain groups and have no relevance to the requirements of the job.
Now, what about that Trump's executive order? The April 23 order declares that it's "the policy of the United States to eliminate the use of disparate-impact liability in all contexts to the maximum degree possible." It argues that disparate impact has become a threat to meritocracy, favoring "racial balancing" over individual merit in the workforce.
So, what's happening with the Sheetz case? The EEOC filed the lawsuit after an eight-year investigation, which arose from complaints filed by two job applicants. However, following Trump's disparate impact order, the EEOC is considering filing a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. But not everything is sealed just yet – a Black worker who was let go from his Sheetz job in Pennsylvania filed a motion in federal court for his own class action lawsuit.
What's the big deal with disparate impact anyway? Well, this legal theory has been instrumental in uncovering and eliminating practices that discriminate against minorities, women, people with disabilities, older adults, and other groups in the job market, as well as in accessing credit or equal pay.
And these Trump-era policy changes – is this the first time they impose such shifts? Nope, not at all. These conservative concerns about disparate impact liability have been around for a while, and they stem from the belief that the concept encourages the assumption that racial imbalance in the workforce is the result of discrimination.
So, what's next for the civil rights landscape under Trump? That's a good question! The withdrawal of federal enforcement of disparate impact risks discouraging firms from scrutinizing their practices to ensure they don't discriminate. However, it’s important to remember that Trump's order doesn't necessarily change the law – the legal theory of disparate impact remains intact, and its future application may rely on judicial interpretations and potential legislative actions.
There you go! That's the glorious future of civil rights enforcement under Trump's rule. Buckle up, folks – we're in for one hell of a ride!
*Microsoft's policy-and-legislation team recently released a statement criticizing the Trump administration's decision to weaken civil rights enforcement, highlighting the potential impact on business and job opportunities in Seattle, where diversity is cherished.* The government's move to weaken employment discrimination laws is raising concerns in the political sphere, with Democratic lawmakers vowing to challenge any attempts to roll back civil rights protections.* As the Sheetz racial discrimination lawsuit progresses, Microsoft has expressed its support for the general news that highlights the importance of diversity and inclusion in the business world and encourages firms to maintain fair hiring practices.* In the midst of these policy changes, many organizations, like Microsoft, are focusing on their corporate social responsibility policies to promote a culture that values equity, justice, and fairness, setting an example for other businesses in the current political climate.
