Federal laws and state laws are put in place to stop employers from discriminating against a job candidate or a current employee because of the following:
- race
- gender
- religion
- sexual orientation
- gender identity pregnancy
- physical or other disability
- age
While one may think the above types of discrimination were once a thing of the past, that is not the case. Unfortunately, workplace discrimination happens to many qualified job applicants every year. Employment discrimination can take a variety of forms, including:
- Failure to offer a position or promote
- Asking pre-employment questions that will dictate who is hired and who is not
- Job requirements that are not related to the position that will exclude a specific group of people
- Disparaging comments that create an intolerable work environment
Race Discrimination
Racial discrimination occurs when a person or a group of people are not treated favorably due to their race. Race discrimination can also involve the mistreatment of another person because he or she shares characteristics or traits that are associated with a particular race, including the color of one’s skin or the texture of one’s hair.
Discrimination based on race can also occur when someone is mistreated because of who he or she has chosen to marry or associate with. Discrimination can also occur when the person who is discriminating and the person who has been discriminated against are of the same race.
Sex/Gender Discrimination
Someone has been discriminated against when they have been mistreated based on sex. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on sex, color, race, sexual orientation. The law forbids any form of discrimination when it comes to hiring, promoting, training, job assignments, benefits, layoffs, and more.
Discrimination based on medical status, childbirth, and pregnancy are also in violation of unlawful discrimination under Title VII. Gender discrimination can take several forms, from stereotyping based on gender to glass ceilings. Whatever it may be, the lawyers at Villaume & Schiek are committed to speaking up and speaking out for equal employment opportunities for everyone.
Disability Discrimination
Another common form of workplace discrimination is disability discrimination. Disability discrimination takes place when someone has been treated unfairly because of a disability. Anyone who has a history of disabilities or if someone is believed to have a disability that is significant(sometimes the person being discriminated against does not have the speculated disability), that person has been discriminated against based on a disability or a suspected disability.
Were you terminated from the workplace because of a disability or a suspected disability? Were you not properly accommodated in the workplace? Were you assigned to a position that will not allow you to be successful due to your disability? You have protection from state laws and federal laws because workplaces are forbidden from discriminating against someone because of a previous disability or a disability that occurred after the employee was hired.
I Am Facing Discrimination at Work: What Should I Do?
- If it is able to be done, speak to the person who is responsible for the discriminatory actions and inform him/her that the conduct is unbidden and that you would like for it to stop. Sometimes this approach can stop any future discriminatory behavior or forms of harassment from the harasser. Sometimes people are not aware that their actions may be discriminatory or offensive.
- Take the necessary steps to file a discrimination complaint. Use all the resources and tools that are available within the workplace. When an employer receives a complaint for discrimination, the employer is required by law to investigate it in a prompt manner.
- Keep a written journal of all the discriminatory actions that have occurred. Document the comments, behavior, actions, etc. Make sure you have dates, times, locations, etc. Include the names of people who may have witnessed the discriminatory actions.
- If you have made it known that you are facing discrimination and the offending behavior persists, your employer is unresponsive, or you have been retaliated against, we recommend that you contact a Minnesota employment lawyer and/or the EEOC.
Unfortunately, thousands of workplace discrimination occur throughout each year. Discrimination is illegal and there are multiple routes that can be taken to ensure the employer who has discriminated against you is held accountable. We know it is not easy to report any form of discrimination, especially because of the chances of one being fired or demoted.
Over the years, we have seen a variety of cases of people who have been demoted, passed over for a position, fired, or retaliated against. We know what steps we must take to get the process started when it comes to assembling your case.
At Villaume & Schiek, we have the top lawyers that specialize in employment discrimination in Minnesota. We take pride in being able to represent all victims of various forms of discrimination. We are thoroughly prepared to take on your case and ensure that you receive the justice you deserve.
If you or someone you love has suffered from any form of workplace discrimination, you can be entitled to compensation. Some employers attempt to use various routes to quiet an individual and prevent them from going forward with a claim.
We want you to know that you or your loved one has a voice that needs to be heard and we want to make sure you are able to speak your truth. When you are in need of someone to stand up for you during one of the toughest times in your life. We do not want you to become another silenced victim.
The federal and state laws that prohibit workplace discrimination do have various time limitations in which someone can pursue a claim. If you do not pursue the claim within the time frame, you could lose those rights. Please do not hesitate to contact us so we can ensure your rights are protected. We will focus on the goals you want to achieve during the process and work with you to determine how we should move forward.
Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individualsituation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.