If you have recently experienced discrimination at work, you may feel at a loss for what to do. You may wonder if you have options to address the unfair, discriminatory treatment. Fortunately, victims of workplace discrimination have the right to report this discrimination while protected from retaliation. Workers should be aware of the types of workplace discrimination and the actions they can take when it happens.
What Is Workplace Discrimination?
Workplace discrimination refers to any unjust, prejudicial treatment someone experiences in the workplace. This may be based on someone’s protected characteristics (race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, or military status). This unjust treatment may happen at any point in the hiring process or during employment. Workplace discrimination could occur in the following ways:
- Hiring and firing decisions
- Job assignments
- Promotion decisions
- Salary decisions
What Counts as Workplace Discrimination?
There are many types of workplace discrimination. Workplace discrimination is unfair treatment based on any of the following factors:
- Age
- Race
- Gender
- Religion
- Disability
- Skin color
- Pregnancy
- National origin
- Genetic information
- Sexual orientation
- Military status
What is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and How Does it Protect Workers?
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a federal agency that enforces the laws that protect workers from discrimination. There are many federal and state laws that aim to protect workers from employment discrimination. The following list represents a few of the
laws that the EEOC enforces:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law prohibits the unfavorable treatment of any applicant or employee based on sex, race, color, religion or national origin.
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA). This law protects employees from sex-based wage discrimination. Thus, employees who perform equal work are legally entitled to equal pay.
- The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. This law expands upon the EPA. Under this act, each inequitable paycheck counts as an individual incident of wage discrimination.
- Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities of 1990 (ADA). This act protects workers with disabilities by prohibiting employers from discriminating against qualified workers with disabilities.
How Can a Workplace Discrimination Lawyer Help Me?
If you have experienced workplace discrimination, speak with a workplace discrimination attorney about your situation. An attorney can help you file a complaint with the EEOC or your state agency. The appropriate agency will investigate your claim and may attempt to remedy or mediate the situation with your employer. Depending on the facts of your case, you may be able to file a workplace discrimination lawsuit. Further, many states have specific civil rights laws which may be applicable to your case. Our civil rights attorneys will know the best way to file your potential claim, whether in the state or federal system. Additionally, if you have a claim under the Equal Pay Act, you do not need to file with the EEOC administrative process first.
Contact Our Civil Rights Violation Attorneys to Discuss Your Options
If you are suffering from workplace discrimination, we encourage you to consult with the workplace discrimination lawyers at Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. During a free consultation, we can help you understand your legal options.
