Indianapolis Employee Discrimination Lawyers Fight for Workers

Everyone deserves a safe workplace. As an employee, facing discrimination in the workplace can have a serious impact on well-being and overall quality of work life. Employee discrimination is a serious matter, which is why there are laws against it to give workers some rights. For most people, it can be hard to even recognize employee discrimination for what it is, but this is where a reliable lawyer may be able to help. An experienced employee discrimination lawyer knows how the law defines discrimination in the workplace and how to build a case against the employer to fight for your rights.

Call The Law Office of Deidra N. Haynes today at 317-982-7396 for answers to your employee discrimination questions.

What is Employee Discrimination?

While most people know a bad work environment when they see one, it can be harder to pinpoint examples of actual employee discrimination. There are a few common examples of discrimination workers should be aware of, such as not being hired, failure to promote, being fired, and ongoing harassment from coworkers or superiors. It is important to note that the discrimination must be based on gender, sexual orientation, race, etc., in order for it to be employee discrimination. If a worker is passed over for a promotion for performance issues, that is not discrimination as defined by the law. If a worker is passed over for a promotion and the decision was made as a result of personal characteristics, such as gender or race, that may fall under employee discrimination. The best way to determine if you are a victim of discrimination in the workplace is to familiarize yourself with the different types. If you suspect you are a victim of this type of discrimination, reaching out to an employee discrimination lawyer is a smart move since they can answer questions and tell you whether there is legal legitimacy to your claims.

Types of Employee Discrimination

Discrimination in the workspace may result from a range of factors, but there are several types that are criminal under state and federal laws. These types of discrimination are based on individual characteristics or identity markers beyond a person’s control, such as race, sexual orientation, or other aspects of identity. There may be other types of discrimination, but these are the main ones an employee discrimination attorney is likely to see on a regular basis.

Race Discrimination

An employee may not be discriminated against based on their race. This means the aspects mentioned above, such as being passed over for a promotion they deserved, failure to hire, firing without ample reason, or other such actions, but the discrimination may also relate to harassment or retaliation within the company for voicing different ideas or presenting concerns to superiors.

Gender Discrimination

Gender discrimination occurs when someone experiences workplace or hiring discrimination based on their gender. While it is most often thought of as an issue predominantly faced by women, it can also happen to men in female-dominated businesses or industries, as well as non-binary individuals in just about any industry or workplace.

Age Discrimination

Ageism is nothing new in society, but when it crosses over into the workplace, it may be an illegal action with legal consequences. Age discrimination takes many forms, but the most common examples include passing someone over for promotion, refusing to hire, firing with undue reason, and other actions based on age rather than performance.

National Origin Discrimination

Another common case seen by employee discrimination lawyers, national origin discrimination takes place when someone faces workplace discrimination based on where they were born or having a national origin different from the majority found in the company. For example, Hispanic employees commonly face this type of discrimination in companies where the vast majority of employees are white or born in America.

Disability Discrimination

It is illegal to discriminate against individuals with disabilities. Ever since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990, it has served as the groundwork to allow for action against discrimination on these grounds. Again, this type of discrimination may take on many forms, so it is ideal to speak to a skilled employee discrimination lawyer regarding your case.

Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination may look like forced maternity leave, refusing to hire or promote an otherwise qualified candidate/employee, and other actions meant to impede a pregnant person’s success in the workplace.

Sexual Orientation Discrimination

It is illegal to discriminate against a potential or current employee on the basis of sexual orientation. There have been several landmark cases over the years to set a legal precedent in an effort to curb this type of discrimination.

Political Party Discrimination

An employee may also face workplace discrimination based on their political party affiliation. This may happen in a scenario where an employee faces concrete examples of workplace discrimination because of differing political beliefs from a supervisor.

Religious Discrimination

Religion is another common discrimination claim in cases of workplace discrimination. This may take the form of a religion outside of the “norm” of the company, such as a Muslim employee in a company where most are Christian, or even an agnostic or atheist facing discrimination for their lack of religious affiliation.

How Can an Employee Discrimination Lawyer Help Me?

Since it can be difficult to determine if the situation at hand is legally defined as discrimination, consulting with a lawyer is always the best bet. An experienced employee discrimination lawyer will be able to determine if your case warrants further legal action and qualifies as being within the legal definitions of discrimination. If the case has merit from a legal standing, the employee discrimination lawyer will put together a case by gathering all of the necessary information and statements before presenting the case to a judge in a court of law. They will also serve as a liaison between employee and employer/company. Since many workers continue to work at the company while dealing with the case, the fear of workplace retaliation is always a concern. Workplace retaliation during a discrimination case is prohibited, and a lawyer will be able to assist the employee in how to handle the situation and take further legal steps.

Find an Employee Discrimination Lawyer Ready to Fight for Justice

If you are facing discrimination as an employee, it doesn’t have to feel like you are in the fight alone. With a reliable employee discrimination attorney in your corner, find out your rights and how to get the justice you deserve. Call us today at 317-982-7396, and let us fight for you.