What was the basis of the ruling in Thompson v. North American Stainless?

The ruling in Thompson v. North American Stainless was fundamentally based on the violation of anti-retaliation clauses of Title VII. In this case, the court held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects not only the employees who engage in protected activities, such as filing a discrimination complaint, but also individuals who are closely associated with them. The case involved a situation where the plaintiff's fiancé was fired in retaliation for her filing a sex discrimination complaint. The court acknowledged that such retaliatory actions create a chilling effect on the ability of employees to exercise their rights under Title VII. Thus, the decision emphasized the importance of protecting individuals from retaliation to uphold the integrity of anti-discrimination laws.

The other options are based on misunderstandings of the legal principles at play. The rationale for the ruling established a broader interpretation of who is considered protected under anti-retaliation provisions, reinforcing that retaliation against individuals connected to those who assert their rights is impermissible.