THE $35,000 HUG

The core of this story is simple. Jaleesa filed an EEO complaint alleging that the Agency discriminated against her on the basis of sex (non-gender-conforming woman in a same-sex relationship) when management asked Complainant not to hug her female co-worker on the workroom floor. This co-worker was also Complainant’s partner in a same-sex romantic relationship. Open and shut decision, i.e., guilty of sex discrimination. But what would the remedy be? The employee convinced EEOC to award her $35,000 for that warning about hugging her partner in the workplace. I pass this story ono to remind union reps that sometimes single, isolated events can lead to be pay-offs.   For details, check out Jaleesa P., v. Louis DeJoy, Postmaster General, USPS, EEOC Appeal No. 2024000023 (2024)