The New Frontier of Workplace Harassment

By Larry Feheley

A federal district court in Pennsylvania issued a momentous decision this month, which should come as a great relief to employers across the country.

The plaintiff in the case worked in the Quality Assurance Department in the employer's Pennsylvania office. In early 2001 she filed a complaint that she was subjected to a hostile work environment. One of her complaints was that she was given unreasonable deadlines and had to work long hours without overtime compensation. She also complained that her boss embarrassed and humiliated her by making derogatory comments about her hair color and her personal relationships. The district court dismissed her claim with the landmark ruling that, while the statements may have been unprofessional and in poor taste, "being blonde is not a protected group under Title VII."

The case, for future reference, is Shramban v. Aetna, 2003 U.S. Dist. Lexis 849 (E.D. Pa. 2003).