9781422281321

work part-time. He said, “I expected the company to at least discuss the matter and look at all the options because women who had children had been offered their jobs part-time or other part-time jobs with the company, but I was told they couldn’t get anyone to do it part-time along with me. I offered to try and find someone for a job share, and I was told the paperwork would be too complicated and too messy.” Neil felt he was left with no choice but to resign. Neil con- tacted the Equal Opportunities Commission, a body set up by the UK government in 1975 to enforce laws banning sex dis- crimination. They helped him take his case to the employment tribunal. The tribunal decided that Neil had been discriminat- ed against and awarded him $54,511 in compensation. When giving their decision, members of the tribunal remarked that Neil’s employers “gave no meaningful consideration” to his civil rights— the rights that every person should have regardless of his or her sex, race, religion, ability status, or sexual orientation. employment tribunal— a type of court in countries like the UK that has authori- ty over workplace disputes. ideology— the set of ideas and beliefs of a group or political party. marital status— a person's state of being single, married, separated, divorced, or widowed. person of color— a person who is not white or of European parentage. sexual orientation— a person's sexual identity in relation to the gender to which they are attracted: heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. Words to Understand in This Chapter

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Equal Opportunities