Our dreams provide our motivation. And when properly focused, our efforts can yield amazing results. For example, with hard work and perseverance, you may be able to get the job of your dreams. But unfortunately, sometimes what starts out as the perfect opportunity can be brought unfairly to an end. And very little in life is more painful than being denied opportunities at the workplace or being wrongfully dismissed.
In October of last year, a 37-year-old man filed a lawsuit against CNN, where he started as an intern before being hired as a video journalist and rising to the position of associate producer and writer/segment producer. The man says that he was inspired by watching Ed Bradley of “60 Minutes,” and CNN was one of the places he most desired to work.
He was understandably excited when he was accepted as an intern and later hired at the network. But he aspired to be a writer, and when writing positions were posted, he applied. But he wouldn’t be given the chance to interview. Instead, he would learn via mass emails when the positions were filled.
Eventually, the man requested training opportunities but says he was denied. And he says that the positions were being filled by white colleagues. Things got worse when after questioning a CNN anchor about the content of an on-air segment about violence among African-Americans, he was terminated.
According to the man’s legal representative, he is seeking lost wages, benefits, and promotion and/or reinstatement.
Being fired from a job can be both emotionally and professionally devastating. And if you believe that you have been the victim of a wrongful termination, you may be able to turn the tables back in your favor. An experienced employee rights attorney can assess the details of your claims and help you decide on a course of action that could yield compensation or even reinstatement.
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “Life with Gracie: Lawsuits accuse CNN of racial discrimination,” Gracie Bonds Staples, Feb. 10, 2017
