Dawn Hayes v. Clariant Plastics & Coatings USA, Inc.

Grand Rapids, Michigan employment law lawyer represented the Plaintiff who sued on a job discrimination theory.



After 25 years of employment at Plastics & Coatings USA, Inc. it fired Dawn Hayes from her job as a warehouse logistics clerk. The company claims that she was laid off as part of a workforce reduction program; Hayes argues that she was terminated because of her gender and age. Hayes sued in federal court, asserting claims for discrimination, unequal pay, and hostile work environment.



Hayes's employment history. Dawn Hayes, a woman, was born in 1965. In 1993,

Clariant1 hired Hayes for a position as a warehouse logistics clerk. Hayes continued to work for

Clariant until her termination in 2018. During her 25-year career with Clariant, Hayes had a near

perfect attendance record and consistently received positive reviews.



As a logistics clerk, Hayes worked in the company's shipping department, where she was

responsible for production reporting, material picks, shipping paperwork, and certificates of

analysis. Although Hayes worked in the warehouse, her job was mainly clerical.



In 2015, Clariant promoted Hayes to senior logistics clerk. Her job duties largely

remained the same, though she had to learn other functions, like handling materials by operating

a forklift. Hayes also obtained a forklift license, but she later let it lapse because she was never

asked to use a forklift or to renew the license.

Summary judgment granted.



Affirmed in part and reversed in part.