Shareholder and Chair of the Labor & Employment practice area Amy L. Bess was recently quoted in the Bloomberg Law article, “Job Discrimination in Pandemic Can Extend Past Asian Workers,” where she commented on the recent surge in workplace discrimination cases following the outbreak of COVID-19.

The article focuses on allegations of workplace discrimination aimed at employees of Asian descent who have seen their workplaces become hostile in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. Ms. Bess notes that the language used by public officials may be partially to blame for the current situation, stating “political rhetoric plays a role in workplace discrimination, and it’s possible for people to blame a race for a negative public event.” She continues, commenting on the fact that despite a nationwide quarantine “harassment is already playing out in essential businesses, such as grocery stores and other customer service businesses that remain open.” Ms. Bess goes on to reaffirm the need for employers to step up during this difficult time, emphasizing that “employers need to protect workers from harassment.” Ms. Bess concludes the article, stating “bottom line to me: education and information is so critical. Discrimination claims come from a level of ignorance.”

To read the article in full, please click here.