Companies are often hit with harassment and discrimination suits because supervisors unintentionally make decisions based on out-dated gender or racial stereotypes.

In one recent case, a woman sued after she was fired from her secretarial job. One of her duties was to bring coffee to the managers in the office. She refused to do it. Because of that, and other performance and attitude issues, she was terminated.

She sued, claiming that asking her to serve coffee was a “reinforcement of an out-dated gender stereotype” — and therefore, sexual harassment.

The company argued that it was part of her job and both male and female employees in the same position had to do it.

The court agreed and threw the case out. Since both genders were treated equally, there was no sexual harassment.

Cite: Klopfenstein v. National Sales and Supply, LLC

Tags: coffee, gender stereotypes, job duties, Klopfenstein, sexual harassment