Final answer:
True, the 'right to sue' letter from the EEOC gives an individual the right to take workplace discrimination claims to court, after first filing a charge with the EEOC. This process is part of the legal framework established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that a document from the EEOC that provides an individual with the right to file a workplace discrimination claim in court is called a "right to sue" letter is true. The EEOC, or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, is responsible for enforcing federal laws that make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. Before going to court, complainants must first file a charge with the EEOC and receive a "right to sue" letter, which is the official notice giving the complainant permission to file a lawsuit in a federal or state court.
The ability to sue based on workplace discrimination is rooted in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was notably involved in the Supreme Court cases Griggs v. Duke Power Co. and Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. This act and subsequent legislative and judicial actions seek to ensure that employment opportunities are not decided based on discriminatory practices. Even with such laws in place, proving discrimination, such as in cases of racial pay disparity, requires showing that the employer paid an individual less than another employee of a different race in a similar job, with similar qualifications and expertise.