posted on Monday, January 01, 2007 8:55 PM
by
Lou Michels
Liability in Lansing
Further reinforcing its reputation as a place where you don't want to be an employer, the Lansing, Michigan City Council passed an ordinance prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of irrelevant factors such as race, age, height, weight, political affiliation, sexual orientation, and gender identity. This should open up some heretofore unexplored areas of employment discrimination litigation. Firmly cementing its reputation as a place slightly to the political left of Lenin, city officials also indicated that they plan to fight enactment of a ban on affirmative action in employment that was approved in a statewide referendum in November. I can't quite square the pro-affirmative action policy with the city ordinance ban on discriminating on the basis of race and other protected factors, but that's what makes democracy so interesting. I also suspect none of the big-box employers are planning on opening a store in Lansing anytime soon.