10.13 Civil Rights—Title VII—"Constructive Discharge" Defined

10.13 CIVIL RIGHTS—TITLE VII—"CONSTRUCTIVE DISCHARGE" DEFINED 

A constructive discharge occurs when the working conditions are so intolerable that a reasonable person in the plaintiff’s position would feel compelled to resign. 

Comment 

This instruction is based on Pennsylvania State Police v. Suders, 542 U.S. 129, 147 (2004). Accord Poland v. Chertoff, 494 F.3d 1174, 1184 (9th Cir.2007); see also Emeldi v. Univ. of Or., 673 F.3d 1218, 1225 (9th Cir.2012) (holding in Title VII retaliation case that constructive discharge occurs when "a retaliating employer creates working conditions so extraordinary and egregious as to overcome the normal motivation of a competent, diligent, and reasonable employee to remain on the job" (quotation marks and alterations omitted)).