The Center for WorkLife Law Releases a New Report

On December 14, the Center for WorkLife Law released the first comprehensive nationwide survey of state and local laws that prohibit family responsibilities discrimination, or FRD, titled Caregivers as a Protected Class?: The Growth of State and Local Laws Prohibiting Family Responsibilities Discrimination.

The laws surveyed specifically include parental status, familial status, or family responsibilities as a protected class in employment protections—similar to sex, race, and religion.  Most call for administrative redress, fines, or injunctive relief.  Many allow for monetary awards for damages, some including punitive damages and attorneys’ fees.  

Read the complete press release, available at http://www.worklifelaw.org/pubs/WLL_Press_Release_12-14-09_Local_Laws_Report.pdf

The full report is available at http://www.worklifelaw.org/pubs/LocalFRDLawsReport.pdf.

The Center for WorkLife Law is a nonprofit research and advocacy group, directed by Distinguished Professor of Law Joan C. Williams. WorkLife Law works with employees, employers, attorneys, unions, and policymakers to develop effective measures to address family responsibilities discrimination and other work/life issues. 

For more information, visit www.worklifelaw.org.