Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits various types of discrimination including discrimination on the basis of one’s race, gender, sex, religion or national origin. This means your employer it is illegal for your employer to consider the fact that you’re a woman (for example) in whether to hire, fire or promote you. Similarly, your it is prohibited to make work place decisions based on your religion, or national origin. Federal legislation has added additional protected categories for age through the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and for those qualified workers with disabilities in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA).
Many states have supplemented federal law with local laws and regulations. For example, recently California became the first state to enact a law banning discrimination against black hairstyles and natural hair. Unfortunately, across the nation black employees have often reported unfair policies that describe natural hair as unhygienic and unprofessional. In fact, the military banned dreadlocks until as recent as 2017.
Even though Georgia and other states do not have similar protections specifically banning discrimination against those with natural hairstyles, federal law provides protections on the basis of race discrimination pursuant to Title VII. Such laws may be used to address similar types of discrimination.
For more information or if you believe that you have been subjected to any type of discrimination, please contact our experienced Atlanta anti-discrimination lawyers to discuss your options and fight back. Call Buckley Bala Wilson Mew now for an immediate case evaluation.