the McDonnell Douglas test

The McDonnell Douglas test is a legal framework used to determine if an employee's complaint of discrimination is valid. It involves a three-step process: first, the employee must show they belong to a protected class and were qualified for the job; second, they experienced an adverse employment action (like being fired or demoted); third, there’s evidence suggesting the action was motivated by discrimination. If these steps are met, the employer can still defend their decision by proving there was a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for their actions. This test helps ensure fair adjudication of discrimination claims.