Was Female Employee’s Termination for Fighting Justified?

Cathy Skrocki was the only female forge specialist at Pennsylvania’s Carpenter Technology, a manufacturer of specialty metal alloys. In her 15 years with the company Ms. Skrocki was disciplined extensively for problems of tardiness, absenteeism and a poor work ethic.

Ms. Skrocki and co-worker Don Greenwood were involved in a physical altercation, which involved shouting, shoving, and pushing by both employees.

Ms. Skrocki was ultimately terminated over the altercation, but Mr. Greenwood was only disciplined. Skrocki charged Carpenter Technology with sex discrimination for terminating her but not her male co-worker Greenwood. Carpenter Technology asked the court to dismiss the sexual discrimination case at an early stage.

The court beleived Ms. Skrocki had made a good initial case for discrimination because she was the only female employee in a male-dominated occupation.

The court agreed that inconsistent discipline can be evidence of discrimination. The companies case would have been bolstered if either employee were ordered to anger management classes. In addition to teaching employees communication skills, stress management techniques and enhancing emotional intelligence an anger management class can be an excellent legal defense against disgruntled employees of small and large corporations.

In the end the court found that Carpenter Technology had presented legitimate evidence that Ms. Skrocki termination was related to a series of negative behaviors and not discrimination.

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