Jewish groups applauded a U.S. Supreme Court decision this week that broadened the definition of sexual harassment, making it easier for victims to win suits against their employers.
The court unanimously ruled that workers suffering from sexual harassment need not prove psychological injury in order to win their case.
“We’re delighted,” Sammie Moshenberg, the Washington representative of the National Council of Jewish Women, said of Tuesday’s decision.
“This decision shows how far our country has come” in understanding the seriousness of sexual harassment in the workplace, she said.
The ruling was of particular importance to Jews because “any move against discrimination is a victory for those who have been discriminated against,” Moshenberg said.
The NCJW joined in a friend-of-the-court brief written by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Briefs were separately submitted by the American Jewish Committee and the American Jewish Congress.
“The Supreme Court has reaffirmed its commitment to achieving true equality in the workplace,” said Wendy Lecker, assistant legal director of AJCommittee.
The case was brought by Teresa Harris against her employer, a truck-leasing company, after the company’s president made degrading comments to her and once suggested that he and Harris go to a hotel to discuss her raise.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor stated in her opinion that the law protects victims of sexual harassment “before the harassing conduct leads to a nervous breakdown.”
“A discriminatorily abusive work environment, even one that does not seriously affect employees’ psychological well-being,” can “detract from employees’ job performance,” O’Connor wrote.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the first Jew to sit on the court in 25 years, joined in the 9-0 decision and submitted a concurring opinion, as did Justice Antonin Scalia.
Ginsberg, known for her work on cases of discrimination against women, said the case focused on “whether members of one sex are exposed to disadvantageous terms or conditions of employment to which members of the other sex are not exposed.”
The decision did not declare Harris the victor, but instead sent the case back to the lower court for retrial.
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