Calling someone a “Karen” at work isn’t just unprofessional — it could also expose your company to legal risk.
In a June court decision, UK Employment Judge George Alliott said calling someone “Karen” was “borderline racist, sexist and ageist,” as it is aimed at middle-aged white women.
While UK and U.S. employment laws are very different, you’d still be wise to take note and ban the Karen epithet in your workplace.
While the U.S. is not the UK, discriminatory language still a constitutes a legal risk for the workplace, and you need to ensure that your employees are not using it in your company.
Everyone is a protected class
The “Karen” stereotype, describing an overbearing, obnoxious white woman, is not an acceptable term in the workplace. That’s because Title VII of the Civil Rights Code prohibits employment discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex and race, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits discrimination against people over 40.
to keep reading, click here: Calling Someone a ‘Karen’ at Work Could Get You Sued