Being mistreated in the workplace can be a tricky topic to deal with. Some people may want to brush it off as though nothing has happened; other people, however, choose to take action when they are being treated poorly at work.
Employment discrimination is still a real problem, and no one is exempt from it. If you have been a victim of employment discrimination, contact us as soon as possible to begin fighting for your rights. We are here to help you.
What is employment discrimination?
Employment discrimination is a specific form of discrimination against you by your employer or prospective employer, and it is based on a number of protected classes, including:
- Race
- Nationality
- Religion
- Age – In Washington, an employer cannot refuse to hire someone because he or she is 40 or older. They also cannot terminate employment because the employee is over 40 years of age.
- Sex (including pregnancy)
- Gender identity – Although this is not the case in every state, Washington does have laws in place that make it illegal for an employer to discriminate against a person based on his or her gender identity.
- Sexual orientation
Similarly to gender identity, the state of Washington has laws in place to protect employees from being discriminated against based on their sexual orientation. - Physical or mental disability
- Genetic information
- Medical condition – In the state of Washington, an employer cannot discriminate against an employee because he or she has a medical condition such as Hepatitis C, HIV, and HIV-related viruses.
- Appearance – An employer cannot discriminate against you based on your height, weight, or any other aspect of your appearance.
- Marital status
An employer is legally prohibited from firing an employee based on the factors listed above. Employees work at the will of the employer. This means that employers can fire people for any reason they want to, with the exception of a handful of protected classes.
The aforementioned protected classes are those in which an employer cannot discriminate against. For example, a pregnant woman looking for a job cannot be declined an offer solely based on the fact that she is pregnant. This would be one type of employment discrimination.
Contact us today to discuss why you believe you have been discriminated against and how we can help you make this right.
There are laws in place to protect you, as an employee, from these types of discrimination at work. Unfortunately, some employers do not uphold those laws. We want to make sure that you remain protected and they receive the necessary consequences.
What actions can I take after I’ve been discriminated against at work?
If you or a loved one has been discriminated against by an employer, the first thing you need to do is establish documentation. What did you experience? What has happened during your workday or the course of your employment that has led you to conclude that you feel like you’re being discriminated against? It is important that you give facts and evidence that you have been discriminated against, and your attorney will help you discover if you are entitled to receiving any compensation.
A difficult aspect of employment discrimination is that the attorney will hear one person’s perception of what happened. This is why it is crucial for you to bring in as much evidence as possible—the more information you are able to provide us with, the better.
Protected Classes
As mentioned before, there are a number of protected classes that an employer is not allowed to discriminate against. We have experience in employment discrimination cases, and we can help you work through this difficult time.
Federal law in the United States does not protect sexual orientation discrimination in the same way as other protected classes.
Our firm represents employees who have been wrongfully terminated by a government or corporate entity as a result of discrimination or retaliation in the workplace.
Help us help you.
If you believe you have been discriminated against by your employer or prospective employer, try your best to document exactly what happened. We can help you make this situation right, but we need as much evidence as possible to prove your claim to be true and discriminatory.
Bringing you the justice you deserve.
You have the right to be free from discrimination in the workplace, and an employer should not deny you that right. Every employee should be treated equally, no matter his or her race, religion, nationality, age, etc.
If you have experienced employment discrimination in Yakima or the state of Washington, call us today for a consultation. We want to help you have a safe and just workplace and bring you the justice you deserve.
Since 2002, Bill Pickett has been helping people like you to receive compensation and justice for the suffering they have endured. He also handles personal injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, civil rights, and law enforcement misconduct cases.
What is illegal in the state of Washington?
An employer cannot deny you employment based on these protected classes. They also cannot discriminate against you in terms of your compensation based on any of these classes. When you are interviewing or applying for a job, a prospective employer cannot inquire about any of these protected classes and cannot use that against you. Employers also cannot circulate any discriminatory statements against you or protected classes.
Some employers are exempt from these cases. For example, in the state of Washington, an employer with fewer than eight employees cannot be accepted for investigation for discrimination.
Our office will help you determine whether or not you have the right to file a claim against an employer for discrimination.
Call our office today.
If you believe you or a loved one has experienced employment discrimination, please contact an attorney as soon as possible. If you are in Yakima or the state of Washington, please contact us today to begin working through this. We are here to help you.