When Is It Time to Hire a Discrimination Attorney?
While you may not love your job, it doesn’t mean it should be a place where you feel uncomfortable. It should never be a space where you go and fear being treated differently than others. It might be time to consider hiring a discrimination attorney if it is.
Keep reading for an overview.
Introduction
Discrimination happens in the workplace, regardless of the laws to protect individuals. These actions can come from the employer, a supervisor, management, and even another employee.
Those who undergo these awful conditions are often afraid to speak up due to potential retaliation – especially since it may put their livelihood at risk. However, there are state and federal laws to protect against discrimination – and retaliation – so that victims of this behavior can feel confident to stand up against them.
How do you know it is time to hire a discriminatory attorney?
Who Should Hire a Discrimination Attorney?
Many people are protected from discrimination between the federal discrimination laws and the additional protections in California. If you have been employed by someone you believe has discriminated against you, have encountered discrimination by others in the workplace, or have faced discrimination when seeking employment, it is essential to seek recourse.
The first step is knowing what may be considered discrimination – and who is protected. It is against the law to discriminate against someone based on the following:
- Veteran or military status
- Marital status
- Gender expression
- Genetic information
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
- Physical disability
- Mental disability
- Medical condition
- Religious beliefs
- National origin
- Ancestry
- Gender
- Age
- Sex
- Race
- Color
Anyone can be discriminated against – not just minorities. So, this is important to remember when trying to determine if you genuinely face discrimination. Of course, having an employment discrimination lawyer can help to review your case and let you know whether or not you have a valid claim.
What Workplace Discrimination Looks Like
With all of the classes above of people, there are many different ways in which workplace discrimination can rear its ugly head. While some are very evident, others are not so much. Sometimes discrimination can occur in a way that leaves you questioning whether or not you have rights in the situation. Below are a few examples:
- A sudden reduction in hours or pay without explanation.
- Being excluded from company events and meetings.
- Changes in job reviews without any explanation – and no change on your part.
- Getting made fun of due to ethnicity or sexual orientation – or openly hearing others comment on another employee or customer.
- Companies that allow vulgar, racist, or sexist jokes to being told freely.
A blatant example that happens much more often than it should is when people of a particular sex or background have the rules enforced differently than others.
When You Should Hire a Discrimination Attorney
It is time to take action if you feel your rights have been violated while at work. Contact an employment lawyer if you have been:
- Sexually assaulted at work
- Sexually harassed – or harassed at all – while at work
- Retaliated against by your employer or supervisor
- Denied payment for hours worked – or have been denied benefits
- Discriminated against in one way or another in the workplace
- Fired without a reason
- Forced to sign a contract to keep your position
Don’t see your situation listed? That’s ok – it doesn’t mean you don’t need an attorney. You probably do. There are just way too many reasons to list. Simply contact an employment discrimination lawyer to discuss your case.
How an Employment Discrimination Attorney Can Help
Whether your employer is a small company or a billion-dollar corporation does not matter. There is no room for discrimination in the workplace. But going up against your employer without an attorney can be challenging. Not only are you navigating both state and federal laws, but you are also potentially opposing a corporate legal team.
Hiring an employment discrimination lawyer can help to ensure that your rights are being met – and that your claim is not being swept under the rug.
How to Find a Discrimination Attorney
Where do you start if you want to move forward with finding a discrimination attorney to discuss your case?
Ask for referrals
Ask your friends and family for recommendations for a discrimination lawyer. Whether or not they have had personal experience, they may know someone who has. Don’t immediately use the attorney, but add them to your list for further research. After all, your case may be a little different and warrant an attorney with different skills.
Research the attorneys
Gather your list of attorneys you found on your own and those who have been recommended. Always check the California State Bar to ensure they are licensed and in good standing. This will give you all their contact information, too.
Take time to review their website to see that employment discrimination is their specialty focus.
Schedule a consultation
Most attorneys will offer a free consultation. They will meet with you and discuss the details of your case and how it relates to the law. This would then help them to determine whether or not you have a case, how successful it may be, how long it could take to resolve, and an idea of the outcome.
Hire your new attorney
Don’t let them go when you think you have found the right attorney. Most of the time, these attorneys will work on a contingency basis, meaning they don’t get paid unless you do. Discuss these details and determine if you want to move forward and hire an attorney.
This is the first step in the right direction when it comes to getting compensated for the discrimination you have had to deal with. Remember, the state of California and the federal government have taken steps to protect your rights – now is the time you fight for them.
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