This is a living document covering caste discrimination workplace. It is updated regularly to reflect caselaw, explain legal obligations, and illustrate remedies recommended for employers by law firms, businesses, and civil rights organizations. The information in this document is not meant to be legal advice.
Why caste happens at work
Caste is an inherited hierarchy within sections of South Asia. It often follows individuals at work, in part due to naming practices, languages, and social connections. Ontario’s Human Rights Commission states that in some cases caste may be evident through names, languages, and dialects, as well as customs and rituals, dietary preferences, and skin color. This document provides definitions to the terms. This document explains the system of hierarchy.
Legal authorities outside of Seattle with a prominent South Asian workforce have been advised to take note. Other areas may adopt Seattle’s law, and claimants may try to utilize current (and more established) legal frameworks such as race and ancestry.
Recent news reports
These examples include excerpts from media articles, legal pleadings, and law firm legal updates. Each company has the right to respond to the claims, which are not an admission of wrongdoing.
Cisco (alleged, 2020 onwards). The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) sued Cisco Systems in June 2020, for alleged discrimination against a Dalit engineer by two higher-caste managers. DFEH’s suit led to an investigation by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Al Jazeera, May 2021). Cisco has denied the claims and said it does not tolerate caste discrimination. In April 2023 the agency withdrew its case against the two managers, and continued its case against Cisco (Fortune, April 2023). As of the last known report, the case against Cisco is ongoing, and no conclusion has been made (AsAmNews, July 2025).
Google talk cancelled (2022). In February 2022, Google canceled a talk on caste discrimination by Thenmozhi Soundararajan from Equality Labs. A senior Google News manager, Tanuja Gupta, who organized the talk, resigned in protest. Gupta said Google retaliated against her for organizing the talk (California State Senate, “In The News”). Canceling the talk was due to a group of South Asian employees objecting to the talk, saying it was “Hindu-phobic” (California State Senate). Google said it denied Gupta’s allegations of retaliation (Associated Press via California State Senate).
30 Dalit women engineers (October 2020). 30 Dalit women engineers from Google, Apple, Microsoft and Cisco wrote a letter to The Washington Post, saying they had faced casteism and discrimination at work. The letter was a collective account. It is not a court of law finding. (Al Jazeera, May 2021).
University caste policies. In 2022, the California State University system added caste to their anti-discrimination policies after allegations surfaced at their East Bay campus (Queens Ledger, May 2026; California State Senate). Harvard, Columbia, and UC Davis have also adopted policies (Mother Jones, August 2023). Two Hindu professors at CSU filed a lawsuit arguing the policy was unconstitutional and violated their civil rights. The Ninth Circuit dismissed their case as they had not proven any injury (Meyers Nave, 2025).
Bars and local governments. The American Bar Association adopted a similar resolution in August 2023 (Mother Jones, August 2023). In early 2023, Seattle and Fresno added anti-caste provisions to their civil rights ordinances (Littler; Perkins Coie). Governor Newsom also vetoed California SB 403 in October 2023 (Littler). The 2025-26 session of the New York legislature also did not include similar provisions (City Journal, June 2026).
Labor case (2021). In 2021, it was also reported that Dalit workers constructing a BAPS Hindu temple in New Jersey were forced to work long hours for less than 10% of the state’s minimum wage (Al Jazeera, May 2021). BAPS has claimed the workers were volunteers. A civil lawsuit was filed and as of the last reported case, no final ruling was made.
United Kingdom and Canada
In March 2025, a Labour MP asked the UK Parliament to include caste in the Equality Act, and the UK government has not used its legal duty to do so (National Secular Society, March 2025). In Canada, in 2023 a British Columbia tribunal awarded $9,000 to a person for being insulted with a caste slur at a work function (LawNow Magazine, December 2025). Please see the guides for the UK and Canada for more information.
India, January 2026
In January 2026, the University Grants Commission of India released new equity rules requiring equity committees to handle caste-based complaints (University World News, January 21, 2026). The rules sparked widespread protests from higher-caste groups, and Dalit students held protests and strikes against the rules (Times Higher Education, 2026). The rules remain stayed, according to the latest report (The Aspirant News, 2026). This is a campus-related case; however, it indicates that the debate on caste-related reform in India remains ongoing.
What the Law Says
Please see our US guide for more information on the ordinances and the bill that was vetoed. Briefly, no federal laws directly mention caste. Litigants have relied upon national origin, ancestry, religion, or race instead (L&E Global, “Seattle Enacts First-of-Its-Kind Law”). Our worldwide comparison includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India and Nepal.
There are clearly-defined positions on both sides of the debate. Some say that using name-based systems helps workers become more readily able to detect and report cases of bias. Others, including the Hindu American Foundation, say systems that name caste discriminate against Hindus, and that existing law already covers caste (Mother Jones, August 2023). One critic says that, with respect to South Asia, the ordinance might make employers reluctant to hire South Asians (L&E Global).
What Employers Should Do
There is consistent advice for employers, both from the legal fraternity and human rights activists. Below are the key suggestions, with the sources cited.
- Review and Revise Employment Policies. Employers in the United States and other countries may want to consider amending equal employment opportunity (EEO) policies and employee training to prohibit discrimination based on caste (Perkins Coie, Littler).
- Train Management. Review your anti-discrimination training for managers and HR employees to ensure they know the policies regarding caste (Perkins Coie). Consider including anti-caste training in your equal opportunity trainings (Littler).
- State it in Your Policy. The International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN) suggests companies adopt a policy to state that caste discrimination is unacceptable and to provide training to employees and management regarding caste (IDSN, “Principles and Guidelines to Address Caste Discrimination in the Private Sector”).
- Spot Subtle Bias. Management should be trained to identify more subtle forms of bias (BambooHR, HR glossary).
- Get Legal Counsel. Because of the sensitivity of this issue, employers should engage employment counsel to assist them (Littler).
AI and hiring tools
New tools bring new risks. One study showed that AI models can retain caste stereotypes. Surnames can also help identify a person’s caste. Our post on AI hiring tools outlines the studies and suggests possible reasons as to why caste is absent from common bias tests.
Why community writing matters
Dalit employees have been the last to be heard in business records. Communities are taking the initiative to record their stories by starting blogs, using AI tools, and email lists. The Ambedkarite Educational Program was built to help communities learn to use digital tools to document their experiences. Our post on who Dalits are may be helpful to our readers who are unfamiliar with the community.
Takeaway
Caste discrimination workplace law is uneven. Seattle and Fresno name caste, California’s bill was vetoed, the UK has an unused duty, and Canada relies on provincial rulings. Recent cases, including the alleged Cisco and Google episodes, show that the issue has reached major employers, while the companies deny wrongdoing. Law firms advise employers to review policies, train managers and HR, and use counsel. The legal position is still changing, so employers should check current local rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is caste discrimination illegal in the workplace?
It depends on the place. Seattle and Fresno name caste in their rules. Elsewhere in the US, claimants have used ancestry, national origin, religion or race. The UK and Canada also rely on existing grounds, so employers should check local rules.
What is the Cisco caste discrimination case?
California’s civil rights agency sued Cisco in 2020, alleging caste discrimination against a Dalit engineer. Cisco denies the allegations. As of the last reliable report, the case against Cisco is still active.
Should employers add caste to their anti-discrimination policy?
Law firms such as Littler and Perkins Coie advise employers to consider amending policies and training to include it. Seattle employers have a direct obligation. This is general information, not legal advice.
What does caste sensitivity training involve?
Guidance says training should help managers and HR staff recognise caste markers such as names and community ties, and understand complaint procedures. The IDSN also recommends training for all employees.
Understanding caste is step one. Building digital independence is step two.
Ambedkarite communities around the world are using AI tools, blogging and email marketing to document their experiences, challenge discrimination and build platforms that cannot be silenced.
The Ambedkarite Educational Program teaches exactly these skills: AI tools, website building, email marketing, blogging and Google AI. Lifetime access is ₹297 (~$4 USD). All future courses are included free.
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SOURCES
- Perkins Coie, “Seattle Enacts First Caste-Based Discrimination Ban”
- Littler, “Seattle Becomes the First US Jurisdiction to Prohibit Caste Discrimination”
- Littler, “California Governor Vetoes Bill Banning Caste Discrimination”
- L&E Global, “Seattle Enacts First-of-Its-Kind Law”
- International Dalit Solidarity Network, “Principles and Guidelines to Address Caste Discrimination in the Private Sector”
- BambooHR, HR glossary, “Caste Discrimination”
- Al Jazeera, May 14, 2021
- Fortune, April 2023
- AsAmNews, July 30, 2025
- California State Senate, “Tech workers claimed caste bias” (Washington Post report)
- California State Senate, AP and LA Times report on the new bill
- Mother Jones, August 2023
- Meyers Nave, Ninth Circuit ruling on CSU policy
- University World News, January 21, 2026
- Times Higher Education, “Is India’s suspension of discrimination rules another blow for DEI?”
- National Secular Society, March 2025
- LawNow Magazine, December 2025
- Queens Ledger, May 5, 2026
- City Journal, June 23, 2026
- The Aspirant News, 2026
