Cooks play integral roles in society. As a cook, you are doing a service while also earning a living. Cooks can work in a variety of settings, such as schools, nursing homes, hospitals, military bases, jails, and restaurants.
If you are a cook, you depend on your job to cover your living expenses. Your employer owes you the duty to maintain a safe, welcoming work environment. There are laws in place to protect employees from mistreatment such as discrimination and harassment.
How a Cook May Experience Workplace Discrimination
There are many ways that discrimination takes place and some cases are more discreet than others. As an example, you are a man who works as a cook at an educational institution. You are highly qualified and experienced, so you apply for the cafeteria manager position.
You are told you will not be considered because a man has never held that role before there. That is discrimination because you are not being treated fairly and you are being denied advancement simply because of your gender.
Another example would be if you were a woman who was qualified for the position and you apply as a cook at a restaurant. You were told that you could not be hired because they had enough women working there and needed to put a man in that position.
Either of these situations are discrimination because of gender. These both could lead to workplace discrimination claims being filed against the employer.
Filing a Discrimination Claim Against Your Employer
If you are a cook who has suffered discrimination in the workplace, you can file a complaint against your employer. You may be entitled to compensation for the damages that you suffered because of the inappropriate action and behavior.
The first step when pursuing a claim will be to file a complaint directly with your employer. This means that you will talk with a supervisor or with human resources. You should maintain evidence and supporting documentation for your claim, so you can show what happened and how it happened. You should ask any witnesses for statements regarding what they saw and heard.
Often, an employer who discriminates may have a track record of such behavior. If you can prove that there is a consistent pattern, you are much more likely to have a successful claim against your employer.
While you are recovering compensation for your treatment, you are also helping others by putting an end to the illegal actions of that employer. They can face harsh penalties for breaking the laws and discriminating against applicants and employees.
Employment discrimination is based on gender, race, national origin, religion, mental or physical disability, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) oversees the laws applying to discrimination and ensures that they are enforced. If you cannot resolve your issue with your employer, or if they fail to take your claim seriously, you will advance your claim to the EEOC. Your claim with the EEOC can be filed online or in person at the nearest EEOC office.
If the EEOC does not get the matter resolved after investigating and talking with the employer, or if they find the laws were blatantly violated, they will suggest you advance your claim to the next level by filing a lawsuit against your employer for their actions. When you file a lawsuit, a judge or jury will determine the outcome and your damages if the matter is not resolved before the case makes it to court. An employment law attorney will help you with the process.
Help With Your Discrimination Claim As a Cook
If you are a cook who has suffered from workplace discrimination, you may want to consider enlisting the help of an employment law attorney. A lawyer is familiar with the state and federal laws that apply to your situation and will know the best way to proceed with your claim.
An attorney has strong negotiation skills and will work to resolve the issue. When you talk with the lawyer, be sure to discuss payment plans because some lawyers require a retainer to be paid while others work solely on a contingency basis.
Your chances of a successful claim may increase when you have legal representation. There is a statute of limitations that applies to workplace discrimination cases, so do not wait until it is too late to recover compensation for your damages. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form today to share the details of your claim with an attorney who represents clients in your area.
