SUE YOUR BOSS: Rights and Remedies for Employment Discrimination

The purpose of this book,"" says ACLU lawyer Larson, ""is to make the law of employment discrimination understandable to everyone."" And he succeeds, in part through the use of an unexpected format. Instead of resorting to a topical approach (age discrimination, racial discrimination, etc.), Larson focuses on the seven major laws individuals can invoke to fight discrimination, each of which is discussed thoroughly in a separate chapter--who's covered, the types of prohibited practices, exceptions and remedies. First examined are the three best-known statutes: the Equal Pay Act (here, Larson's explanation of the meaning of ""equal work"" is especially good); Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (a clear discussion of overt, disparate impact and disparate treatment discrimination); and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Less known but just as important are the Revenue Sharing Act of 1972, under which an individual can act to halt payment of federal funds to local governments engaged in discriminatory practices; and Executive Order 11246, which operates similarly in regard to discrimination by federal contractors and establishes affirmative-action requirements. Larson also advocates use of two neglected century-old statutes--the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1871--to increase possible monetary remedies in appropriate cases; and clearly outlines their limitations and subtleties (the 1871 Act, for example, covers only intentional discrimination and applies only to state and local government employers). Combining the statutes--i.e., suing under several--is the key to enforcing your rights, Larson argues; and in the final section he provides case-history illustrations, offers advice on how to prepare and file administrative charges, and furnishes lists of private attorneys and activist organizations versed in employment-discrimination law. A straightforward, well-written book--admirably free of legal jargon, but packed with footnote citations for practitioners--that's simply the best short work on the subject.