After more than a decade of service with the same employer, and more than 30 years of experience, Marcy Rich thought she had positioned herself for inevitable career advancement. After obtaining her master's degree, attending extra-curricular training workshops, and keeping herself knowledgeable and marketable in her industry, Rich found that her continual requests to be promoted, have a change in job position or receive a different job title were constantly rejected. In the meantime, others less qualified and educated than she were often granted promotions and job changes.
After confronting management diplomatically and getting no legitimate reasoning why she was being passed over, Rich took notice of one major difference between her and the rest of the organization. She was the only Jewish employee. She was a victim of workplace religious discrimination.
Taking literally Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that companies are prohibited from discriminating in regards to race or religion when promoting, she decided to "jump the wall of discrimination" and file a complaint with the government.
In her book, Peeking Through Blind Justice, the author takes us on her personal journey through the legal process from filing a charge with EEOC to starting litigation, and ending with the Judge's summary judgment.
Pertinent statements extracted from the lawsuit's depositions and interrogatories clearly reveal the lies, data manipulation, and defamation of character used that erodes our judicial system. The book also illustrates the complexities and roadblocks that reduce the simplicity that the law states.
Justice is not always blind.
The legal process could be - and should be avoided. Through real workplace events we are made aware of strategies to better interact with others for understanding, compassion, and tolerance. Inquiring more than judging is described as a powerful way to manage our differences and appreciate another's beliefs.
We are encouraged to be on a path of humanity. It is time for every human being to be human.
The author challenges each one of us to be a 'Mensch' (a person of integrity and honor) in our business and personal lives.
