Employment discrimination is common in the United States, though many people don’t realize they have a valid case after undergoing it. Someone treated unfairly at work due to their race, religion, or other factors could be able to lodge a claim against their employer—and this is when you’ll need an employment discrimination lawyer.
Have you been a victim of employment discrimination?
Millions of people are the victims of discrimination each year, but don’t realize what has been done to them is actually illegal.
Here’s more about the various factors involved in an employment discrimination case, and how a lawyer helps you to state your case.
What is Discrimination?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary definition, employment discrimination refers to any unfair treatment someone has experienced at work.
This could be bias during the hiring process, or deliberately uncomfortable working conditions. It could also refer to someone being dismissed unfairly for discriminatory reasons.
If someone makes an inappropriate comment at work, this could also be reason for a damages claim.
Employment-based discrimination is illegal. However, victims are often discouraged from or scared to seek legal advice.
Nobody should have to deal with discrimination at work—and those who have gone through it should have access to justice!
Discrimination During the Hiring Process
Discrimination isn’t just about what happens in the workplace, but might take place long before you’ve been hired. Companies might refuse to hire someone based on discriminatory factors or beliefs—and if there’s obvious proof of this, it’s likely you have a case.
Do you believe someone has declined to hire you for unfair reasons?
You’re going to need a workplace discrimination attorney.
Discrimination at Work
Discrimination can also happen at work, and might stem from another employee or a direct employer. Workplace-based discrimination creates an uncomfortable situation for the victim—and often feels like deliberate harassment.
If you aren’t sure what to do about discrimination at work, it’s time to speak to a lawyer.
Work-related harassment often causes people to quit their jobs, but also sometimes forces them to stay when faced with the threat of losing their only income.
An attorney can help you to collect the necessary evidence, and proceed with your case to court.
Unfair Dismissal
If you believe you have been dismissed for discriminatory reasons, you might have a claim for damages—and in some cases, you might be able to get your job reinstated. Unfair dismissal is illegal, however, can be difficult to prove and prosecute.
Suspicion of unfair dismissal should be discussed with an experienced attorney.
While employers don’t have to state the reason for letting someone go, you might have legal recourse if you can prove that you were fired for a discriminatory or unfair reason.
A Toxic Work Environment
Work-related harassment creates a toxic work environment.
This often forces people to quit their jobs, whereby employers or fellow employees knowingly make work life more uncomfortable for a specific party.
However, the same toxic work environment forces many people to stay out of fear of losing their only income.
If you believe that you’re the victim of a toxic work environment, an attorney can help.
Employee/Employer Disputes
A dispute can also arise directly between fellow employees, or between you and an employer—and anywhere it appears to have discriminated against someone they might have a valid case.
Sometimes it feels like “they just don’t like me at work”, which can sometimes be enough to prove discrimination in the workplace.
A lawyer can help you to prove discrimination at work, and might be able to help you claim for it.
Intimidation or Harassment in the Workplace
Intimidation and harassment in the workplace are more reasons why you might need to contact a skilled attorney. The harassment might be subtle, but may also be more blatant—and in many cases, it becomes a recurring pattern that abuses power dynamics in the workplace.
Workplace-based intimidation and harassment isn’t something you should fight alone. An experienced attorney can hold the guilty parties responsible, and might be able to assist you in applying for added legal protection.
Salary or Wage Disputes
Workplace discrimination can also encompass salary or wage disputes. Discrimination can mean that someone is paid less than their equivalent employee for unfair reasons—and even though most people never discuss their salaries out in the open, there are hundreds of cases each year where people realize they’re being unfairly paid.
Salary or wage disputes are usually solved in court. However, you will need an experienced workplace attorney to intervene on your behalf—and you might be able to claim against past unfair pay.
Social Media Disputes and the Workplace
Social media has added another aspect to workplace disputes. You might be discriminated against for social media posts, or even dismissed for something you’ve posted on social media.
If you believe that unfair or discriminatory treatment has arisen from social media, you need a workplace discrimination attorney.
Social media disputes in the workplace are common. If you have a social media account and believe that it’s affected your life at work, you should approach an attorney for more advice.
When to Call Your Lawyer
When should you call your lawyer?
Any workplace discrimination event means you should call a lawyer as soon as the event has happened. Whether we’re talking about a salary disagreement or unfair dismissal, you could be entitled to a claim with an experienced attorney on your case—and the best way to know is an initial consultation.
You should call your lawyer as soon as you’re aware of workplace discrimination. This is even more true if you are being discouraged, intimidated, or threatened from taking further steps. Waiting could complicate or worsen your case.
A lawyer can ensure fair treatment, or might be able to ensure that you’re fairly compensated for any lack thereof.
An initial consultation with your lawyer tells you whether you have a valid case, and how to proceed next—in most states including Arizona, your first appointment with a lawyer is free.