The Minnesota Human Rights Act makes it illegal for employers to discriminate based upon race, disability, sex, or a number of other factors. Unfortunately, many employers still continue to make hiring and promotion decisions based upon one’s membership in a protected class. If you’ve been discriminated against, contact the Law Offices of Villaume & Schiek.
What Does Employment Discrimination Look Like?
Discrimination in the workplace can take on many different forms. For example, it does not just include hiring decisions, but may also involve promotions, work assignments, layoffs, and salary increases. Some questions to ask that may determine if someone is a victim include:
- Are others in the same protected class also treated negatively? In cases of discrimination, all individuals associated with a particular class tend to be treated unfairly across the board.
- Has the employer made derogatory comments based on someone’s membership in a protected class?
- Does the boss show favoritism to certain groups?
- Are some employees written up for things that other workers always seem to get by with?
If you can answer yes to any of the above questions, you could have grounds for a discrimination complaint. How you react to it can potentially affect your ability to sue. Speak with one of our attorneys who will be happy to advise you on the next steps.
Hostile Work Environment
The EEOC defines harassment as “unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.” Harassment can result in a hostile work environment when:
- Maintaining your employment is conditional based upon your willingness to put up with the harassment.
- The harassment is so severe that a reasonable person would declare it creates a hostile work environment.
No one should have to endure harassment just to bring home a paycheck. If you are experiencing a hostile work environment, take action to end it. Contact Villaume & Schiek to find out what remedies are available to you under law.
Filing an Employment Discrimination Complaint
Complaints of employment discrimination are handled through the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR). Upon receiving a complaint, this agency will conduct an investigation to determine if discrimination did in fact occur. Alternatively, you may also file a complaint with the Minneapolis office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission located at:
330 Second Avenue Suite 720
Minneapolis, MN 55401
You have one year from the date of the discrimination (or the date you learned about the discrimination) to file your complaint. However, we advise our clients to file as soon after the discriminatory event as possible. That way, it will be easier to make statements because the incident is still clear in your mind.
Taking Employment Discrimination Legal Action
You may not proceed with legal action until the EEOC or MDHR gives you the authority to do so. Accordingly, it is very important to see that your complaint is filed properly and contains adequate documentation to support your claim.
Before filing a claim, discuss your case with us. We can assess the strengths and weaknesses of your complaint and provide you with filing tips that will increase your odds of success. For more complicated matters, you may even want to have us represent you during the claims process.
Contact us for Help with Discrimination Issues
We’ve helped other Minnesotans successfully recoup lost wages, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. Employment discrimination cases are not won easily, as many employers have a team of lawyers fighting to protect them.
Level the playing field by having your own experienced attorney fight for your rights. Contact us today to find out more.
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.