I recently read an article on ESPN.com that made me smile. Why did it make me smile? Because the Miami Marlins hired Kim Ng, the first female General Manager in Major League Baseball. As a baseball fan, this is great for the sport. As an employment lawyer, I have seen far too many cases of qualified women being held back in male dominated industries. Hats off to the Principal Owner, Bruce Sherman, and CEO, Derek Jeter. The article mentions that she may be the first female GM in all major sports. A true trailblazer and role model for girls everywhere.
Ms. Ng has an impressive background in baseball. Before joining the Marlins, she was MLB’s senior vice president of baseball operations. In this role, she was the highest-ranking Asian American female baseball executive. Before that, she was an assistant general manager for the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Law is on Your Side
Unfortunately, too many women do not get the promotion or job that they deserve. Employers cannot make employment decisions on a basis of discrimination. The law protects certain classes of people. Employers cannot take adverse action again somebody because of his or her race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, disability, age, and genetic information. Somebody like Ms. Ng belongs to two protected classes in employment law. She is a woman, and she is of Asian descent.
If you are a member of a protected class and feel that you are being treated unfairly at work, give us a call. Unfair treatment may include being passed over for a promotion, getting fired, making less money, not getting a job, getting harassed, and so forth. If any adverse action is taken against due to the factors listed above, the law is on your side.
PS. I wish Ms. Ng great success with the Marlins. At least until they play the Phillies. Go Phils!