Workplace Discrimination Lawyer

Workplace Discrimination Lawyer in Northern Virginia


Workplace discrimination can take many forms, some legal, others illegal. To understand employment discrimination, start by understanding what the word "discrimination" means: to "discriminate" is to make a distinction in favor or against someone based upon some characteristic. So in choosing who to hire, fire, layoff, or promote, employers are always discriminating. In Virginia, employers are permitted to discriminate amongst their employees based upon many characteristics, but there are important characteristics that employers cannot use to make employment decisions. The protections that you have, as a Virginia employee, can be overlapping and complex.

Protection From Employment Discrimination 

Here's an example of some of the protections available to Virginia employees related to employment discrimination:

  1. It's illegal to make employment decisions based upon sex, race, color, national origin, or religion under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and later amendments, as well as the Virginia Human Rights Act.
  2. Disparities in pay amongst male and femal employees performing equal work are prohibited under the Equal Pay Act and the Virginia Equal Pay Act.
  3. Racial discrimination in any contract (including a contract for employment) is illegal under the Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1870.
  4. Virginia employees who are over the age of 40 are protected from discrimination on the basis of age by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
  5. Federal contractors are prohibited from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation by Executive Order 11246, as amended by Executive Order 13672.
  6. Disability discrimination is illegal for most Virginia employers under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Virginians with Disabilities Act and for the Federal Government under the Rehabilitation Act.
  7. The Family Medical Leave Act prohibits discrimination against Virginia employees because the have taken protected medical leave.

If you believe your Virginia employer is subjecting you to illegal discrimination, set up a case evaluation with J. Madison PLC to learn whether your rights have been violated and what you can do to stop it. If there's something we can do to help, we'll offer to represent you to put a stop to the discrimination and provide you with appropriate compensation.

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