Legal Question in Employment Law in Washington
Sexual Discrimination
Recently my wife was demoted from an Account Manager to an occupational employee. She had never been written up or talked to about her job performance and was told that the company felt that the client preffered to work with a male account manager. Now they have changed her hours and days of work. She was not given any reason for her demotion other than that the client wanted a male account manager. A male manager was brought in approximately 1 month prior to her being demoted - however she was relieved of all her managorial duties upon the new managers arrival. My wife wants to quit but is afraid she will not be eligable for unemployment?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Sexual Discrimination
It is illegal for the company to make this decision because of gender, even if it is based on the customer's preference. (Unless the company is very small.)
I'm not sure on these facts whether she can get unemployment benefits. She probably should complain about this in order to get those benefits, and it would not hurt her discrimination claims as well. One can get unemployment benefits in WA if there was a substantial deterioration in working conditions (e.g., demotion and pay cut, and maybe even demotion without pay cut) and the person has exhausted the reasonable and non-futile alternatives to quitting. She needs to at least have a conversation with the decisionmaker about what has been done, and why, and how she can get back to her prior status. Then write down the conversation in a letter and send it to the person. Give me a call if you want someone to look at the letter.
This is a serious issue and I think you should consult with an attorney directly. Call me or another lawyer before taking action. (Ignore my outgoing voicemail message that I'm not taking new calls, and say it was this website that you found me through)
Steve Teller
(206) 324-8969
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