Employment discrimination occurs when a person is treated differently in the workplace because of some type of protected class status, such as their race or sex. Some of these laws only pertain to employers who have a certain number of regular employees.
If you believe that you were discriminated against in the workplace, contact an experienced employment law attorney for help with your case.
Types of Employment Discrimination
Federal laws prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of the following:
- Age – It is unlawful for covered employers to discriminate against someone because they are age 40 or older.
- Disability – There are several federal laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability or even perceived disability.
- Equal pay/compensation – Males should not receive more pay for conducting the same job as their female counterparts.
- Genetic information – Employees must not be discriminated against because of their genetic information.
- Harassment – Harassment is considered a form of discrimination when it is so pervasive or severe that it alters the terms and conditions of employment.
- National origin – Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of a person’s national origin.
- Pregnancy – An applicant or employee must not be discriminated against because of her pregnancy.
- Race/Color – Title VII also prohibits discrimination on the basis of an applicant’s or employee’s race or color.
- Religion – Federal law prohibits discrimination against an employee or applicant due to their religion or religious practices. Reasonable accommodations may also be required.
- Retaliation – Employers are prohibited from terminating employees or taking adverse employment action against them for asserting their rights under workplace protection laws.
- Sex – A person should not be discriminated against because of his or her sex.
Many states have laws that mirror these federal laws. State laws or city ordinances may provide for additional protections or protected class status, such as freedom from discrimination involving a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Examples of Employment Discrimination
Some examples of employment discrimination include:
- An ad says that they favor young people
- You are a woman and you are paid less than a man in the same position
- A coworker makes offensive sexual jokes around you
- You are Hispanic and you are paid less to perform the same job
- You help a coworker with a workplace harassment case and are reassigned to a less desirable situation
- You are fired for filing a workers’ compensation claim
Your sexual harassment claim is found unsubstantiated and you are fired for filing it
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