Fighting Back Against Gender Profiling & Discrimination

How a flight attendant overcame gender discrimination and wrongful termination after reporting sexual assault, and secured a favorable settlement.

Note: This case was handled by Thurgood, Inc. and is anonymized to maintain confidentiality. Each case is unique; this example does not guarantee or predict similar results.

The Situation: Wrongful Termination After Reporting Sexual Assault

Our client, a male flight attendant, called in sick the morning after surviving a sexual assault. Instead of receiving support, he was suspended upon returning to work, subjected to a one-sided employer investigation, and ultimately terminated. He believed his employer’s refusal to believe his account reflected gender discrimination in the workplace and bias against male survivors of sexual assault.

The Challenge: Proving Gender Bias at Work

The airline’s claims about his performance were quickly discredited. However, the deeper issue was the employer’s outright refusal to accept that he had been assaulted. This case underscored a broader problem: when workplace bias and gender profiling take precedence over facts, employees are left vulnerable to unjust outcomes.

Our Approach: Using EEOC Guidance to Protect Workers’ Rights

We grounded our argument in the employer’s own policies and procedures:

1. The employer used a point-based system to track attendance violations.

2. According to their published attendance policy, our client did not have enough points on record to justify termination.

By emphasizing these facts, we reframed the conversation around evidence—not assumptions. At the same time, we recognized that employment law disputes involving gender bias often carry an emotional weight. Our team carefully paced negotiations, giving the opposing counsel space to process, reflect, and reconsider their position.

The Resolution: Settlement in a Workplace Discrimination Case

We successfully negotiated a private agreement without filing charges. The settlement included the equivalent of 8.5 months of salary, plus an additional tax benefit tied to the injuries he suffered. The entire negotiation was resolved in just 10 weeks.

Standing Up Against Gender Discrimination at Work

At Thurgood, Inc., we advocate for employees who face wrongful termination, gender discrimination, and workplace retaliation. If you’ve experienced workplace discrimination or bias after reporting harassment or assault, contact us to learn how we can help protect your rights.