Marsha Coleman Adebayo Case Study

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Marsha Coleman-Adebayo- A Whistleblower INTRODUCTION-BACKGROUND In 1996, Marsha Coleman, the MIT trained expert working as a senior policy analyst for United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in South Africa filed a complaint against a mining company operating there and extracting vanadium which was harming not only environment but also human and animal health. Her complaint in the same department for which she was working went unheeded due to the connivance among the alleged company and EPA. But Marsha took this matter to other environment friendly organizations to which EPA reacted adversely and subsequently halted the promotion of Marsha. Alleging racial and gender discrimination, Marsha sued EPA for not promoting her. Thus this case involved two issues which were derogatory to the reputation of a governmental organisation, viz; environmental pollution and racism- against colour and gender. (Coleman-Adebayo, Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo Biography, 2011) A SHOCKING DISCOVERY …show more content…

She won her case, with jury awarding her $300,000 in damages. EPA was found guilty of violating civil rights of Marsha on the basis of race, sex, colour and hostile work environment under Civil Rights Act of 1964. The NO FEAR Coalition conducted thorough campaigns to sensitise the masses against the racial discrimination and the disturbing work conditions. These campaigns and trial secured the passage of ‘Notification of Federal Employees Anti-discrimination and Retaliation Act, 2002’, a first anti- discrimination and Civil Rights law of 21st century. President George W. Bush signed the act in 2002. The law requires federal agencies to pay for awards to whistle-blowers for discrimination and retaliation violations out of their own budgets. It also stipulates that all employees undergo training on the issue every two