Atlanta Discrimination Lawyer
Fighting Employment Discrimination in Georgia
Almost 50 years ago, Congress passed Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This federal law would prohibit employment discrimination in the workplace. The law prohibits discrimination against employees, former employees, and applicants on the basis of their race, sex, national origin, and religion.
Since the passage of Title VII, Congress has passed additional laws to prohibit other forms of discrimination. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits disability discrimination. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects individuals over the age of 40 from discrimination.
Although each type of employment discrimination has unique issues, most of Title VII's fundamental principles apply to types of discrimination. If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, consult our Atlanta employment discrimination attorneys at Buckley Bala Wilson Mew LLP.
Schedule a case review to discuss the details of your employment case with an Atlanta discrimination attorney.
Examples of Workplace Discrimination
Discrimination laws protect employees from discrimination on their membership in a protected category.
Protected categories under federal law include:
- Race
- Color
- National origin
- Age
- Sex
- Religion
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
Your company cannot take adverse actions against you based on your membership in one of these protected categories.
Adverse action is a broad term, encompassing actions an employer may carry out to negatively affect your employment, including:
- Refusal to hire
- Discharge
- Suspension or demotion
- Unequal discipline
- Poor performance review or references
- Adverse transfer or shift change
- Pay reduction
- Reduction in overtime hours
- Sexual harassment
- Encouraging a hostile work environment
These are just a few examples. If your employer has taken a potentially harmful action against you, that is likely an adverse action.
Discrimination and Retaliation
An adverse action also includes retaliation. Retaliation includes any negative action by your employer against you in response to your complaint about discrimination,. It also includes negative actions taken for participating as a witness in someone else's discrimination case.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently expanded the definition of retaliation. This definition now includes conduct by an employer that would deter reasonable people from pursuing their rights. In many cases, if you complain about discrimination but don't have a strong case, you may have a stronger retaliation case. For more information on the law of retaliation, take a look at our retaliation page.
To Whom Does Title VII Apply?
Discrimination laws apply to the following employers if they employ at least 15 employees:
- Private employers
- State and local governments
- Employment agencies
- Labor organizations
- The federal government
Virtually all employees and job applicants are covered. Whatever your immigration status, you may well be covered under the discrimination laws.
Don't hesitate to contact us anytime if you have any questions about whether you are protected under the employment discrimination laws. We'll provide you with a confidential case evaluation and answer any questions you may have.
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