The case has significance for: Connecticut v. Teal The case has significance for: a) Disparate impact analysis and the "bottom line" b) The rights of the individual From Teal: "The test, which barred promotion and had a discriminatory impact on black employees, clearly falls within the literal language of 703(a)(2), as interpreted by Griggs. The statute speaks, not in terms of jobs and promotions, but in terms of limitations and classifications that would deprive any individual of employment opportunities. A disparate impact claim reflects the language if 703(a)(2) and Congress' basic objective in enacting that statute: "to achieve equality of employment opportunities and remove barriers that have operated in the past to favor an identifiable group of white employees over other employees [quoting Griggs]. When an employer uses a non-job-related barrier in order to deny a minority or woman applicant employment or promotion, and that barrier has a significant adverse effect on minorities or women, then the applicant has been deprived of an employment opportunity "because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. In other words, 703(a)(2) prohibits the discriminatory "artificial, arbitrary, and unnecessary barriers to employment, "[quoting Griggs] that "limit...or classify...applicants for employment ...in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities."

Connecticut v. Teal (cont.) Rights of the Individual: It is clear that Congress never intended to give an employer license to discriminate against some employees on the basis of race or sex merely because he favorable treats other members of the employee's group. "...Title VII does not permit the victim of a racially discriminatory policy to be told that he has not been wronged because other persons of his or her race or sex were hired."