EEOC Fails With Race Bias Claim for Worker With Dreadlocks

The EEOC’s allegations that a black job seeker was denied work based on race because she refused to cut off her dreadlocks fall short, a federal appeals court affirmed (EEOC v. Catastrophe Mgmt. Sols., 2016 BL 301245, 11th Cir., No. 14-13482, 9/15/16).

The case is notable because the court rejected the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s argument that it stated a plausible bias claim under the modern definition of “race,” which according to the agency includes cultural characteristics and “individual expression” associated with race.

Federal law prohibits job discrimination based on the fixed traits of ...