It is against the law to discriminate against an employee’s gender, race, sexual orientation, age, religion, disabilities, or national origin in the workplace. Employees and prospective employees are protected against prejudicial treatment, so if you believe you are being discriminated against by an employer, it is crucial to understand your rights and to take the appropriate actions.
What Should I Do?
Countless individuals are subjected to discrimination in the workplace every year and, fortunately, the law is on your side. However, victims of discrimination often fear employer retaliation, which is why many incidents go unreported. Your right to report discrimination in the workplace is protected by federal law, so although taking action might seem daunting, it is your right to do so as long as it is done in good faith.
Below are some of the steps you can take if you believe you are being discriminated against at work:
- Keep a journal: One isolated incident is often not enough to substantiate a discrimination claim, so keep a journal to make a note of any of the discriminatory behaviors and actions you encounter at work. Include the date, time, location, and names of who was involved.
- Seek legal counsel from an employment law attorney before reporting incidents: It’s best to seek legal counsel prior to reporting any incidents. If your employer takes insufficient action or no action at all, you need to start thinking of your other options with your attorney
- Your very next step should be to hire legal counsel: Unfortunately, the involvement of an employment law attorney, who is an expert in in anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation laws, is often what it takes for an employer to realize the severity and seriousness of an employee’s complaints.
If your employer retaliates against you for filing a discrimination complaint, document the behavior by keeping copies of all correspondence, including emails, letters, texts, or anything else that might prove you were being retaliated against. For example, if your previous performance reviews were stellar and, after your complaint, your ratings dropped considerably, this may be retaliation.
Reach Out to an Experienced Employment Law Attorney Today!
If you are being discriminated against at work due to race, sex, gender, disability, illness or any of the other aforementioned reasons, you need to contact the team at the Chavez Law Firm to obtain the knowledgeable legal guidance you need to protect your rights as an employee. Our law firm is backed by more than two decades of experience and a proven track record of success, so you can feel confident in our ability to handle your workplace discrimination case.