Employment Discrimination Lawyer

Discrimination in the workplace is unacceptable and should be dealt with accordingly. If you believe your employer has treated you unfairly, an employment discrimination attorney can help you file a claim to seek justice.

Being discriminated against in the workplace can be hurtful and disheartening when work is supposed to be a place you can go each day and feel safe. Additionally, if you’re being treated badly by your employer, it may be difficult to admit, because you may not think the discrimination warrants a legal claim; however, there are laws in place to protect you and your coworkers from mistreatment.

If you’re being victimized at work, it’s important that you seek out a lawyer and file a claim against your employer. Otherwise, your employer may continue to discriminate against you as well as other employees for years to come. By filing a claim, you’re helping to make a statement and set the standard for what type of workplace treatment is acceptable.

At Snider & Associates, LLC, an employment discrimination lawyer can assist you in the legal claims process. Whether you’ve experienced one incident of discrimination or an array of mistreatment from multiple people in your company, we’ll help you investigate the situation and gather the evidence. That way, you can feel confident when you present your case and stand up for your rights.

Antidiscrimination Laws

There are various antidiscrimination laws in place that protect you in the workplace. No matter what state you live in, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applies to everyone nationwide. This federal statute makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees based on race, religion, color, sex, or national origin.

Other federal laws that protect employees include:

  • The Equal Pay Act
  • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act
  • The Pregnancy Discrimination Act
  • The Civil Rights Act of 1991
  • The Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  • The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act

Each of these federal acts protects a different group of people in the workplace. Together, they work to ensure all individuals are protected against discrimination, whether that discrimination comes in the form of being fired prematurely, being paid unequal wages, or not getting hired in the first place. Other state and local laws have also been put in place nationwide to avoid further employment discrimination.

Examples of Illegal Discrimination at Work

There are multiple ways in which discrimination is seen in the workplace, and sometimes, it can be hard to identify when the mistreatment is present. The hiring process is the first place where discrimination is often present but goes unnoticed. While an employer has the right to choose who they want to hire, they must hire fairly and not on the basis of race, sex, religion, or national origin.

Other examples of discrimination in the workplace include poor workplace conditions, sexual and verbal harassment, an unethical firing process, and workplace retaliation.

How to File an Employment Discrimination Claim

Hiring an employment discrimination attorney can be helpful when filing a claim for your incident of harm or mistreatment at work because your lawyer will be able to guide you through every step of the claims process. To file an official claim, you’ll need to contact the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). You can file a charge online, by phone, by mail, or at an EEOC office near you.

The EEOC recommends discussing your incident in person with an EEOC staff member. That way, they can understand exactly what happened. You can bring your lawyer with you to the meeting as well as any evidence you may have gathered. You must file an EEOC charge before you can file a lawsuit against your employer.

Filing a Lawsuit for Employment Discrimination

Once you’ve filed a claim with the EEOC, they’ll decide if the claim is worth moving forward. If the EEOC decides that your claim warrants further examining, they’ll ask you and your employer if you agree to go to mediation to sort out the matter and figure out a settlement.

If you don’t want to go to mediation, the EEOC will proceed with a deeper investigation. You can request a notice of a right to sue, but it’ll be up to the EEOC whether or not you’re allowed to file a lawsuit.

Normally, the EEOC takes about 180 days to do their investigation before they’ll give notice of a right to sue. If they aren’t able to determine whether the employer broke the law or if they can’t come to a settlement agreement with the employer, then they’ll allow you to proceed with a lawsuit.

Employment Discrimination FAQ

It can be a frustrating process to file an employment discrimination lawsuit because the government has a lot of control over what you can and can’t do; however, the EEOC’s hope is to help you receive the best possible treatment from your employer at all times.

We know the legal process can seem intimidating, and you may have various questions and concerns, which is why we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions below. If you happen to have other questions, you can contact our law office for more information.

Is one incident of discrimination enough to file a claim?

Whether you’ve experienced one incident or multiple incidents of discrimination, you can file a claim with the EEOC. Your employer broke the law by mistreating you, and they need to be held accountable for it. While it may be hard to prove their discriminatory acts from one incident, you always have the opportunity to speak up and make your voice heard.  

Is there a deadline on filing my employment discrimination claim?

You’ll need to file your charge with the EEOC within 180 days of when the discrimination took place. The deadline is extended to 300 days if a state or local law puts double enforcement on the federal discrimination law that is already being violated in the incident.

What can I be rewarded with at the end of my lawsuit or charge?

The types of reward will depend on what discrimination took place and the effect that it had on the victim. Common remedies can include back pay; benefits you would have received if the discrimination hadn’t happened, such as a promotion or a job; and compensatory damages.  

Reach Out to an Employment Discrimination Attorney

While the process can seem lengthy, filing an employment discrimination charge and a possible lawsuit can do more than give you a compensatory reward. In the end, you’ll feel grateful that justice was served and your employer or potential employer was held accountable for their unacceptable actions. Hopefully, because you took the time to file a claim, they won’t mistreat others in the future.

The legal process may be daunting at first, but an experienced attorney from Snider & Associates, LLC can walk you through every step and ensure you have the right documentation to file your claim on time. You’ll feel more confident in yourself when you have someone there to support you and stand up for your rights.

If you’re ready to discuss your case with an employment discrimination lawyer in greater detail, call 410-653-9060 or fill out the contact form below.