Discrimination in the workplace is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on the quality of victims’ lives. Workplace discrimination can take a variety of forms, ranging from the merely offensive to conduct that can cause significant emotional distress and make an employment situation untenable. Fortunately for workers, both state and federal law prohibit discrimination based on certain protected characteristics in most work environments. Examples of characteristics that are protected include discrimination against race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, ancestry, and disability. Importantly, it is also prohibited to retaliate against an employee for opposing illegal discrimination, filing a complaint, or participating into an investigation regarding discrimination.
Individuals who have been the victims of discrimination have legal rights and should talk to a Philadelphia employment discrimination lawyer as soon as possible to determine whether they have a legal claim. Below is some information about steps to take when a person believes that they may have been the victim of workplace discrimination.
Document Any Instances Of Alleged Discrimination
One of the most important things that victims of discrimination can do is document instances of discrimination. This can be as simple as keeping a notebook or a computer document that details the date and nature of a discriminatory incident.
Report The Discriminatory Conduct To Human Resources Or Management
In many cases, workplace discrimination can be resolved internally. Furthermore, alerting your employer to the existence of alleged discrimination is an important legal step. In many cases, in order to hold a company liable for discrimination, a plaintiff must be able to establish that the company knew about the discrimination and had an opportunity to remedy it. Going through the internal complaint process puts your company on notice and can be helpful in establishing liability if the situation is not properly resolved.
Contact the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission or the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission
Before a person can file a discrimination lawsuit, they must file a complaint with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC) or the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). The time limits for filing an administrative complaint are relatively short, so it is important for the victims of discrimination to not delay. Once a charge is filed, the agency will notify your employer and investigate, request mediation, dismiss the matter, take other action. If it finds that your claims are justified, the agency will then issue you a right to sue letter, which allows you to take formal legal action against your employer. Because of the complexity associated with this process, it is highly advisable for anyone considering pursuing a workplace discrimination claim to discuss the matter with an experienced attorney.
Contact A Philadelphia Workplace Discrimination Attorney Today To Schedule A Free Case Evaluation
People who have been discriminated against at work are often entitled to significant recovery. Because this area of law can be extremely complicated and contentious, it is important for anyone who believes that he or she has been discriminated against in a work environment to discuss their options with an attorney as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation with a Philadelphia employment discrimination lawyer, call The Pearce Law Firm today at 215-557-8686.