An employer may be falsely accused of discrimination by an employee; the employer might have an overwhelming defense on such a claim. But employers sometimes find themselves in hot water for dealing inappropriately with weak or bogus discrimination complaints.
It may be understandably difficult for an employer to keep an even keel when an employee, in its view, is committing a shake-down and making a bogus charge of discrimination. To understand the temptation, however, is not to justify it and. Retaliation for a weak claim can trigger liability as it may have for Saavi Formalwear in the suit brought by former employee, Jacquelyn Bliss (pending before U.S. District Court Judge Patrick J. Schiltz (D. Minn.)).