If you are a veteran and experiencing veteran status discrimination in the workplace, you may be able to file a claim for discrimination. Being a veteran is something that you should be proud of, not something that should stand in your way when it comes to finding a good job.
Employers are not allowed to discriminate against service members or veterans. If you’ve been a victim of veteran status discrimination you have the right to hold that employer accountable.
What is Veteran Discrimination?
Veteran discrimination occurs when an employer refuses to hire or promote someone based on their status as a veteran. It also occurs when employers refuse to accommodate disabilities that are common among veterans or refuses to give active duty service members adequate time off for things like deployments.
Discriminating against an employee who is a veteran based on their injuries that were received while they were on active duty is also veteran status discrimination.
Are Veterans a Protected Class?
This is a common question. Yes, veterans are a protected class. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act says that veterans can’t be discriminated against by employers because of their past, present, or future military service.
Disabled veterans are part of a protected class under the Americans with Disabilities Act so veterans with injuries or medical conditions that require accommodations at work must be given those accommodations.
What Are Examples of Veteran Discrimination?
Some common examples of discrimination against veterans include:
- Employers who won’t promote veterans or give them certain kinds of jobs, like customer facing jobs, because they believe that veterans have anger issues or can’t work well with the public.
- Service members not having their jobs held for them so if they return from active duty there jobs have been filled while they were away.
- Employers refusing to make reasonable accommodations for veterans with disabilities tied to their military service. For example, not allowing a veteran that is missing a leg due to a combat injury sit for their shift rather than stand. Or not allowing disabled veterans extra time off during the day for medical appointments when needed.
- Employers refusing to hire workers or promote them because of their status as a veteran.
If you’re a veteran and you’ve been discriminated against by an employer make sure that you are saving any and all evidence of discrimination so that you can use that to support your claim.
Get Help With Your Veteran Discrimination Claim
Veterans should never be made to feel less than for serving their country. As a veteran you have rights in the workplace and shouldn’t face veteran discrimination.
If you have been the victim of veteran discrimination talk with an attorney that specializes in veteran discrimination cases today. A free case evaluation with an experienced attorney will help you understand your specific situation more and help you proceed with a claim against your employer.
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