Discriminatory Termination
Termination in Violation of State and Federal Discrimination Laws
Nevada state law and federal law prohibit termination, and other adverse employment actions, harassment or retaliation against an employee based on the employee’s protected class.
Discrimination Under Nevada Law
NRS 613.330 Unlawful employment practices: Discrimination on basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, national origin or discussion of wages; interference with aid or appliance for disability; refusal to permit service animal at place of employment; consideration of criminal history without following required procedure.
1. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 613.350, it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer:
(a) To fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any person, or otherwise to discriminate against any person with respect to the person’s compensation, terms, conditions or privileges of employment, because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin;
(b) To limit, segregate or classify an employee in a way which would deprive or tend to deprive the employee of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his or her status as an employee, because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin; or
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, to discriminate against any employee because the employee has inquired about, discussed or voluntarily disclosed his or her wages or the wages of another employee.
2. It is an unlawful employment practice for an employment agency:
(a) To fail or refuse to refer for employment, or otherwise to discriminate against, any person because of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin of that person;
(b) To classify or refer for employment any person on the basis of the race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin of that person; or
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, to discriminate against any person because the person has inquired about, discussed or voluntarily disclosed his or her wages or the wages of another person.
3. It is an unlawful employment practice for a labor organization:
(a) To exclude or to expel from its membership, or otherwise to discriminate against, any person because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin;
(b) To limit, segregate or classify its membership, or to classify or fail or refuse to refer for employment any person, in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive the person of employment opportunities, or would limit the person’s employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect the person’s status as an employee or as an applicant for employment, because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin;
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, to discriminate or take any other action prohibited by this section against any member thereof or any applicant for membership because the member or applicant has inquired about, discussed or voluntarily disclosed his or her wages or the wages of another member or applicant; or
(d) To cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against any person in violation of this section.
4. It is an unlawful employment practice for any employer, labor organization or joint labor-management committee controlling apprenticeship or other training or retraining, including, without limitation, on-the-job training programs, to discriminate against any person because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin in admission to, or employment in, any program established to provide apprenticeship or other training.
5. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, it is an unlawful employment practice for any employer, employment agency, labor organization or joint labor-management committee to discriminate against a person with a disability by interfering, directly or indirectly, with the use of an aid or appliance, including, without limitation, a service animal, by such a person.
6. It is an unlawful employment practice for an employer, directly or indirectly, to refuse to permit an employee with a disability to keep the employee’s service animal with him or her at all times in his or her place of employment, except that an employer may refuse to permit an employee to keep a service animal that is a miniature horse with him or her if the employer determines that it is not reasonable to comply, using the assessment factors set forth in 28 C.F.R. § 36.302.
7. The provisions of paragraph (c) of subsection 1, paragraph (c) of subsection 2 and paragraph (c) of subsection 3, as applicable, do not apply to any person who has access to information about the wages of other persons as part of his or her essential job functions and discloses that information to a person who does not have access to that information unless the disclosure is ordered by the Labor Commissioner or a court of competent jurisdiction.
8. It is an unlawful employment practice for an appointing authority governed by the provisions of chapter 284 of NRS, the Administrator of the Division of Human Resource Management of the Department of Administration or the governing body of a county, incorporated city or unincorporated town to consider the criminal history of an applicant for employment without following the procedure required in NRS 245.046, 268.402, 269.0802, 284.281 or 284.283, as applicable.
9. As used in this section, “service animal” has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 426.097.
Retaliation under Nevada Law
NRS 613.340 Unlawful employment practices: Discrimination for opposing unlawful practice or assisting investigation; printing or publication of material indicating prohibited discrimination.
1. It is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against any of his or her employees or applicants for employment, for an employment agency to discriminate against any person, or for a labor organization to discriminate against any member thereof or applicant for membership, because the employee, applicant, person or member, as applicable, has opposed any practice made an unlawful employment practice by NRS 613.310 to 613.4383, inclusive, or because he or she has made a charge, testified, assisted or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or hearing under NRS 613.310 to 613.4383, inclusive.
2. It is an unlawful employment practice for an employer, labor organization or employment agency to print or publish or cause to be printed or published any notice or advertisement relating to employment by such an employer or membership in or any classification or referral for employment by such a labor organization, or relating to any classification or referral for employment by such an employment agency, indicating any preference, limitation, specification or discrimination, based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or national origin, except that such a notice or advertisement may indicate a preference, limitation, specification or discrimination based on religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical, mental or visual condition or national origin when religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical, mental or visual condition or national origin is a bona fide occupational qualification for employment.
Pregnancy Discrimination and Pregnancy Leave under Nevada Law
NRS 613.438 Unlawful employment practices: Adverse employment actions relating to accommodations for conditions relating to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions; exceptions; employer may require statement from physician; other provisions of law unimpaired.
1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 2 and 3, it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to:
(a) Refuse to provide a reasonable accommodation to a female employee or applicant for employment upon request of the employee or applicant, as applicable, for a condition of the employee or applicant relating to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the business of the employer as determined pursuant to NRS 613.4374;
(b) Take an adverse employment action against a female employee because the employee requests or uses a reasonable accommodation for a condition of the employee relating to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition which may include, without limitation, refusing to promote the employee, requiring the employee to transfer to another position, refusing to reinstate the employee to the same or an equivalent position upon return to work or taking any other action which affects the terms or conditions of employment in a manner which is not desired by the employee;
(c) Deny an employment opportunity to an otherwise qualified female employee or applicant for employment based on the need of the employee or applicant, as applicable, for a reasonable accommodation for a condition of the employee or applicant relating to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition;
(d) Require a female employee or applicant for employment who is affected by a condition of the employee or applicant relating to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition to accept an accommodation that the employee or applicant did not request or chooses not to accept; and
(e) Require a female employee who is affected by a condition of the employee relating to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition to take leave from employment if a reasonable accommodation for any such condition of the employee is available that would allow the employee to continue to work.
2. It is not an unlawful employment practice for an employer to take an action set forth in this section if the action is based upon a bona fide occupational qualification.
3. An employer who is a contractor licensed pursuant to chapter 624 of NRS is not subject to:
(a) The requirements of this section with regard to a request of a female employee to provide a reasonable accommodation if the requested accommodation is to provide a place, other than a bathroom, where the employee may express breast milk and the employee is performing work at a construction job site that is located more than 3 miles from the regular place of business of the employer; or
(b) The requirements of paragraph (d) or (e) of subsection 1 with regard to a female employee who is affected by a condition of the employee relating to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition if the work duties of the employee include the performance of manual labor.
4. An employer who is a contractor licensed pursuant to chapter 624 of NRS is encouraged to provide a reasonable accommodation described in paragraph (a) of subsection 3 to the extent practicable.
5. An employer may require a female employee to provide an explanatory statement from the employee’s physician concerning the specific accommodation recommended by the physician for the employee.
6. This section must not be construed to preempt, limit, diminish or otherwise affect any other provision of law relating to discrimination on the basis of sex or pregnancy.
(Added to NRS by 2017, 1782)
NRS 613.4383 Unlawful employment practices: Refusal to grant leave to female employee for condition relating to pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition. If an employer grants leave with pay, leave without pay, or leave without loss of seniority to his or her employees for sickness or disability because of a medical condition, it is an unlawful employment practice to fail or refuse to extend the same benefits to any female employee for a condition of the employee relating to pregnancy, childbirth or a related medical condition. The female employee who is pregnant must be allowed to use the leave before and after childbirth, miscarriage or other natural resolution of her pregnancy, if the leave is granted, accrued or allowed to accumulate as a part of her employment benefits.
Relief under Nevada Law
NRS 613.432 Unlawful employment practices: Relief. If a court finds that an employee has been injured by an unlawful employment practice within the scope of this section and NRS 613.310 to 613.4383, inclusive, the court may award the employee the same legal or equitable relief that may be awarded to a person pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq., if the employee is protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq., or NRS 613.330.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Federal Law)
Prohibits termination, and other adverse employment actions, harassment or retaliation based on the protected classes of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy) or religion.
Title VII Selected Provisions
42 USC § 2000e–2 – Discrimination Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(a) Employer practices
It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer—
(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or
(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
(b) Employment agency practices
It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employment agency to fail or refuse to refer for employment, or otherwise to discriminate against, any individual because of his race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, or to classify or refer for employment any individual on the basis of his race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
(c) Labor organization practices
It shall be an unlawful employment practice for a labor organization—
(1) to exclude or to expel from its membership, or otherwise to discriminate against, any individual because of his race, color, religion, sex, or national origin;
(2) to limit, segregate, or classify its membership or applicants for membership, or to classify or fail or refuse to refer for employment any individual, in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities, or would limit such employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee or as an applicant for employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or
(3) to cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an individual in violation of this section.
(d) Training programs
It shall be an unlawful employment practice for any employer, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee controlling apprenticeship or other training or retraining, including on-the-job training programs to discriminate against any individual because of his race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in admission to, or employment in, any program established to provide apprenticeship or other training.
(e) Businesses or enterprises with personnel qualified on basis of religion, sex, or national origin; educational institutions with personnel of particular religion
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,
(1) it shall not be an unlawful employment practice for an employer to hire and employ employees, for an employment agency to classify, or refer for employment any individual, for a labor organization to classify its membership or to classify or refer for employment any individual, or for an employer, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee controlling apprenticeship or other training or retraining programs to admit or employ any individual in any such program, on the basis of his religion, sex, or national origin in those certain instances where religion, sex, or national origin is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise, and it shall not be an unlawful employment practice for a school, college, university, or other educational institution or institution of learning to hire and employ employees of a particular religion if such school, college, university, or other educational institution or institution of learning is, in whole or in substantial part, owned, supported, controlled, or managed by a particular religion or by a particular religious corporation, association, or society, or if the curriculum of such school, college, university, or other educational institution or institution of learning is directed toward the propagation of a particular religion.
Americans with Disabilities Act (Federal Law)
Prohibits termination, and other adverse employment actions, harassment or retaliation based on the protected class of disability.
ADA Selected Provisions
42 USC § 12112 – Discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
(a) General rule
No covered entity shall discriminate against a qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to job application procedures, the hiring, advancement, or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.
(b) Construction
As used in subsection (a) of this section, the term “discriminate against a qualified individual on the basis of disability” includes—
(1) limiting, segregating, or classifying a job applicant or employee in a way that adversely affects the opportunities or status of such applicant or employee because of the disability of such applicant or employee;
(2) participating in a contractual or other arrangement or relationship that has the effect of subjecting a covered entity’s qualified applicant or employee with a disability to the discrimination prohibited by this subchapter (such relationship includes a relationship with an employment or referral agency, labor union, an organization providing fringe benefits to an employee of the covered entity, or an organization providing training and apprenticeship programs);
(3) utilizing standards, criteria, or methods of administration—
(A) that have the effect of discrimination on the basis of disability; or
(B) that perpetuate the discrimination of others who are subject to common administrative control;
(4) excluding or otherwise denying equal jobs or benefits to a qualified individual because of the known disability of an individual with whom the qualified individual is known to have a relationship or association;
(5)
(A) not making reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant or employee, unless such covered entity can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the business of such covered entity; or
(B) denying employment opportunities to a job applicant or employee who is an otherwise qualified individual with a disability, if such denial is based on the need of such covered entity to make reasonable accommodation to the physical or mental impairments of the employee or applicant;
(6) using qualification standards, employment tests or other selection criteria that screen out or tend to screen out an individual with a disability or a class of individuals with disabilities unless the standard, test or other selection criteria, as used by the covered entity, is shown to be job-related for the position in question and is consistent with business necessity; and
(7) failing to select and administer tests concerning employment in the most effective manner to ensure that, when such test is administered to a job applicant or employee who has a disability that impairs sensory, manual, or speaking skills, such test results accurately reflect the skills, aptitude, or whatever other factor of such applicant or employee that such test purports to measure, rather than reflecting the impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills of such employee or applicant (except where such skills are the factors that the test purports to measure).
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (Federal Law)
Prohibits termination,and other adverse employment actions, harassment or retaliation based on the protected class of age.
ADEA Selected Provisions
29 USC § 623 – Discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
(a) Employer practices
It shall be unlawful for an employer—
(1) to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual or otherwise discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s age;
(2) to limit, segregate, or classify his employees in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s age; or
(3) to reduce the wage rate of any employee in order to comply with this chapter.
(b) Employment agency practices
It shall be unlawful for an employment agency to fail or refuse to refer for employment, or otherwise to discriminate against, any individual because of such individual’s age, or to classify or refer for employment any individual on the basis of such individual’s age.
(c) Labor organization practices
It shall be unlawful for a labor organization—
(1) to exclude or to expel from its membership, or otherwise to discriminate against, any individual because of his age;
(2) to limit, segregate, or classify its membership, or to classify or fail or refuse to refer for employment any individual, in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities, or would limit such employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee or as an applicant for employment, because of such individual’s age;
(3) to cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an individual in violation of this section.
(d) Opposition to unlawful practices; participation in investigations, proceedings, or litigation
It shall be unlawful for an employer to discriminate against any of his employees or applicants for employment, for an employment agency to discriminate against any individual, or for a labor organization to discriminate against any member thereof or applicant for membership, because such individual, member or applicant for membership has opposed any practice made unlawful by this section, or because such individual, member or applicant for membership has made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or litigation under this chapter.
(e) Printing or publication of notice or advertisement indicating preference, limitation, etc.
It shall be unlawful for an employer, labor organization, or employment agency to print or publish, or cause to be printed or published, any notice or advertisement relating to employment by such an employer or membership in or any classification or referral for employment by such a labor organization, or relating to any classification or referral for employment by such an employment agency, indicating any preference, limitation, specification, or discrimination, based on age.
(f) Lawful practices; age an occupational qualification; other reasonable factors; laws of foreign workplace; seniority system; employee benefit plans; discharge or discipline for good cause
It shall not be unlawful for an employer, employment agency, or labor organization—
(1) to take any action otherwise prohibited under subsections (a), (b), (c), or (e) of this section where age is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of the particular business, or where the differentiation is based on reasonable factors other than age, or where such practices involve an employee in a workplace in a foreign country, and compliance with such subsections would cause such employer, or a corporation controlled by such employer, to violate the laws of the country in which such workplace is located;
(2) to take any action otherwise prohibited under subsection (a), (b), (c), or (e) of this section—
(A) to observe the terms of a bona fide seniority system that is not intended to evade the purposes of this chapter, except that no such seniority system shall require or permit the involuntary retirement of any individual specified by section 631(a) of this title because of the age of such individual; or
(B) to observe the terms of a bona fide employee benefit plan—
(i) where, for each benefit or benefit package, the actual amount of payment made or cost incurred on behalf of an older worker is no less than that made or incurred on behalf of a younger worker, as permissible under section 1625.10, title 29, Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on June 22, 1989); or
(ii) that is a voluntary early retirement incentive plan consistent with the relevant purpose or purposes of this chapter.
Notwithstanding clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (B), no such employee benefit plan or voluntary early retirement incentive plan shall excuse the failure to hire any individual, and no such employee benefit plan shall require or permit the involuntary retirement of any individual specified by section 631(a) of this title, because of the age of such individual. An employer, employment agency, or labor organization acting under subparagraph (A), or under clause (i) or (ii) of subparagraph (B), shall have the burden of proving that such actions are lawful in any civil enforcement proceeding brought under this chapter; or
(3) to discharge or otherwise discipline an individual for good cause.
29 USC § 631 – Age limits
(a) Individuals at least 40 years of age
The prohibitions in this chapter shall be limited to individuals who are at least 40 years of age.
Family and Medical Leave Act (Federal Law)
Prohibits termination, and other adverse employment actions, in retaliation for taking family medical leave or interference with the right to take family medical leave.
FMLA Selected Provisions
29 USC § 2612 – Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
(a) In general
(1) Entitlement to leave
Subject to section 2613 of this title, an eligible employee shall be entitled to a total of 12 workweeks of leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following:
(A) Because of the birth of a son or daughter of the employee and in order to care for such son or daughter.
(B) Because of the placement of a son or daughter with the employee for adoption or foster care.
(C) In order to care for the spouse, or a son, daughter, or parent, of the employee, if such spouse, son, daughter, or parent has a serious health condition.
(D) Because of a serious health condition that makes the employee unable to perform the functions of the position of such employee.
(E) Because of any qualifying exigency (as the Secretary shall, by regulation, determine) arising out of the fact that the spouse, or a son, daughter, or parent of the employee is on covered active duty (or has been notified of an impending call or order to covered active duty) in the Armed Forces.
(2) Expiration of entitlement
The entitlement to leave under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1) for a birth or placement of a son or daughter shall expire at the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of such birth or placement.
29 USC § 2613 – Certification
(a) In general
An employer may require that a request for leave under subparagraph (C) or (D) of paragraph (1) or paragraph (3) of section 2612(a) of this title be supported by a certification issued by the health care provider of the eligible employee or of the son, daughter, spouse, or parent of the employee, or of the next of kin of an individual in the case of leave taken under such paragraph (3), as appropriate. The employee shall provide, in a timely manner, a copy of such certification to the employer.
(b) Sufficient certification
Certification provided under subsection (a) of this section shall be sufficient if it states—
(1) the date on which the serious health condition commenced;
(2) the probable duration of the condition;
(3) the appropriate medical facts within the knowledge of the health care provider regarding the condition;
(4)
(A) for purposes of leave under section 2612(a)(1)(C) of this title, a statement that the eligible employee is needed to care for the son, daughter, spouse, or parent and an estimate of the amount of time that such employee is needed to care for the son, daughter, spouse, or parent; and
(B) for purposes of leave under section 2612(a)(1)(D) of this title, a statement that the employee is unable to perform the functions of the position of the employee;
(5) in the case of certification for intermittent leave, or leave on a reduced leave schedule, for planned medical treatment, the dates on which such treatment is expected to be given and the duration of such treatment;
(6) in the case of certification for intermittent leave, or leave on a reduced leave schedule, under section 2612(a)(1)(D) of this title, a statement of the medical necessity for the intermittent leave or leave on a reduced leave schedule, and the expected duration of the intermittent leave or reduced leave schedule; and
(7) in the case of certification for intermittent leave, or leave on a reduced leave schedule, under section 2612(a)(1)(C) of this title, a statement that the employee’s intermittent leave or leave on a reduced leave schedule is necessary for the care of the son, daughter, parent, or spouse who has a serious health condition, or will assist in their recovery, and the expected duration and schedule of the intermittent leave or reduced leave schedule.
29 USC § 2614 – Employment/benefits protection
(a) Restoration to position
(1) In general
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any eligible employee who takes leave under section 2612 of this title for the intended purpose of the leave shall be entitled, on return from such leave—
(A) to be restored by the employer to the position of employment held by the employee when the leave commenced; or
(B) to be restored to an equivalent position with equivalent employment benefits, pay, and other terms and conditions of employment.
29 USC § 2615 – Prohibited acts
(a) Interference with rights
(1) Exercise of rights
It shall be unlawful for any employer to interfere with, restrain, or deny the exercise of or the attempt to exercise, any right provided under this subchapter.
(2) Discrimination
It shall be unlawful for any employer to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any individual for opposing any practice made unlawful by this subchapter.
(b) Interference with proceedings or inquiries
It shall be unlawful for any person to discharge or in any other manner discriminate against any individual because such individual—
(1) has filed any charge, or has instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding, under or related to this subchapter;
(2) has given, or is about to give, any information in connection with any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this subchapter; or
(3) has testified, or is about to testify, in any inquiry or proceeding relating to any right provided under this subchapter.
Remedies (Federal Law)
Available remedies include reinstatement, backpay, frontpay, compensatory damages, emotional distress damages, punitive damages and recovery of attorney’s fees and costs.
Selected Remedies Provisions
42 USC §2000e-5
(g) Injunctions; appropriate affirmative action; equitable relief; accrual of back pay; reduction of back pay; limitations on judicial orders
(1) If the court finds that the respondent has intentionally engaged in or is intentionally engaging in an unlawful employment practice charged in the complaint, the court may enjoin the respondent from engaging in such unlawful employment practice, and order such affirmative action as may be appropriate, which may include, but is not limited to, reinstatement or hiring of employees, with or without back pay (payable by the employer, employment agency, or labor organization, as the case may be, responsible for the unlawful employment practice), or any other equitable relief as the court deems appropriate. Back pay liability shall not accrue from a date more than two years prior to the filing of a charge with the Commission. Interim earnings or amounts earnable with reasonable diligence by the person or persons discriminated against shall operate to reduce the back pay otherwise allowable.
(2)
(A) No order of the court shall require the admission or reinstatement of an individual as a member of a union, or the hiring, reinstatement, or promotion of an individual as an employee, or the payment to him of any back pay, if such individual was refused admission, suspended, or expelled, or was refused employment or advancement or was suspended or discharged for any reason other than discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin or in violation of section 2000e–3(a) of this title.
(B) On a claim in which an individual proves a violation under section 2000e–2(m) of this title and a respondent demonstrates that the respondent would have taken the same action in the absence of the impermissible motivating factor, the court—
(i) may grant declaratory relief, injunctive relief (except as provided in clause (ii)), and attorney’s fees and costs demonstrated to be directly attributable only to the pursuit of a claim under section 2000e–2(m) of this title; and
(ii) shall not award damages or issue an order requiring any admission, reinstatement, hiring, promotion, or payment, described in subparagraph (A).
42 USC § 1981a – Damages in cases of intentional discrimination in employment
(a) Right of recovery
(1) Civil rights
In an action brought by a complaining party under section 706 or 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000e–5, 2000e–16] against a respondent who engaged in unlawful intentional discrimination (not an employment practice that is unlawful because of its disparate impact) prohibited under section 703, 704, or 717 of the Act [42 U.S.C. 2000e–2, 2000e–3, 2000e–16], and provided that the complaining party cannot recover under section 1981 of this title, the complaining party may recover compensatory and punitive damages as allowed in subsection (b) of this section, in addition to any relief authorized by section 706(g) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, from the respondent.
(2) Disability
In an action brought by a complaining party under the powers, remedies, and procedures set forth in section 706 or 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000e–5, 2000e–16] (as provided in section 107(a) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12117(a)), andsection 794a(a)(1) of title 29, respectively) against a respondent who engaged in unlawful intentional discrimination (not an employment practice that is unlawful because of its disparate impact) under section 791 of title 29 and the regulations implementing section 791 of title 29, or who violated the requirements of section 791 of title 29 or the regulations implementing section 791 of title 29 concerning the provision of a reasonable accommodation, or section 102 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42U.S.C. 12112), or committed a violation of section 102(b)(5) of the Act, against an individual, the complaining party may recover compensatory and punitive damages as allowed in subsection (b) of this section, in addition to any relief authorized by section 706(g) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, from the respondent.
(3) Reasonable accommodation and good faith effort
In cases where a discriminatory practice involves the provision of a reasonable accommodation pursuant to section 102(b)(5) of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 [42 U.S.C. 12112(b)(5)] or regulations implementing section 791 of title 29, damages may not be awarded under this section where the covered entity demonstrates good faith efforts, in consultation with the person with the disability who has informed the covered entity that accommodation is needed, to identify and make a reasonable accommodation that would provide such individual with an equally effective opportunity and would not cause an undue hardship on the operation of the business.
(b) Compensatory and punitive damages
(1) Determination of punitive damages
A complaining party may recover punitive damages under this section against a respondent (other than a government, government agency or political subdivision) if the complaining party demonstrates that the respondent engaged in a discriminatory practice or discriminatory practices with malice or with reckless indifference to the federally protected rights of an aggrieved individual.
(2) Exclusions from compensatory damages
Compensatory damages awarded under this section shall not include backpay, interest on backpay, or any other type of relief authorized under section 706(g) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000e–5(g)].
(3) Limitations
The sum of the amount of compensatory damages awarded under this section for future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other nonpecuniary losses, and the amount of punitive damages awarded under this section, shall not exceed, for each complaining party—
(A) in the case of a respondent who has more than 14 and fewer than 101 employees in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, $50,000;
(B) in the case of a respondent who has more than 100 and fewer than 201 employees in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, $100,000; and
(C) in the case of a respondent who has more than 200 and fewer than 501 employees in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, $200,000; and
(D) in the case of a respondent who has more than 500 employees in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or preceding calendar year, $300,000.