DescriptionThis exploratory mixed-methods study uses grounded theory to examine the relationship between family responsibilities discrimination (FRD) and career advancement in the public sector. By employing a primarily qualitative embedded research design, semi-structured interviews and exit surveys were conducted in three New Jersey public schools to study a sample of teachers and similarly situated professional staff to investigate the organizational and individual dimensions of FRD, the discretion used by people with family responsibilities, and perceptions of the emerging legal concept of FRD. This study is the first of its kind to examine FRD, as opposed to gender discrimination, in relation to career advancement of public sector employees, specifically public school professionals. The results of the analysis of the data, consisting of qualitative themes extracted from the interviews and descriptive statistics from the exit surveys, show that FRD causes teachers to use discretion at home and work, that current organizational factors not only fail to mitigate effects of FRD on the work/family balancing act but sometimes contribute to them, that there is a lack of awareness of the legal concept of FRD, and that FRD directly and indirectly impedes career advancement in the school system. Based on these preliminary results, recommendations for future research and action in the field are suggested.