Economists predict the United States is due for another recession. Employers across a range of industries may respond accordingly by reducing their workforces.
Unfortunately, when deciding who to fire, some employers might consider the gender of their employees. This is against the law. Accounting for employee gender when reducing the workforce during a recession is an example of recessionary discrimination.
What Does It Mean When Someone Is A Victim of Recessionary Discrimination When They’re Laid Off?
A recession can necessitate layoffs. In tough economic times, companies must often reduce their workforces to stay afloat.
Recessionary discrimination occurs when employers decide who to lay off by accounting for such factors as:
- Race
- Age
- Gender/gender expression
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Disability
- Etc.
Be aware that both state and federal laws establish the factors an employer can and can’t account for when deciding who to fire, hire, etc. If you’re not sure whether your employer has broken the law when firing you, meet with an expert for more information.
An employer has likely engaged in discrimination if they accounted for your gender when deciding to let you go. While they might cite the recession as the reason for firing you, their true motivation might be different.
How To Tell If I’ve Been Fired As A Result of Gender & Recessionary Discrimination.
Various signs may indicate you were fired because of gender. Examples include:
- Being paid less than coworkers of another gender despite being as experienced/qualified as them
- Being routinely passed over for promotions/raises you’ve earned
- Coworkers and/or supervisors intentionally using the wrong pronouns
- Being the target of jokes or other such negative comments about your gender
Often, when an employer engages in recessionary discrimination based on gender, they already have a history of allowing gender to unfairly influence their decisions regarding layoffs, hiring, promotions, etc. A recession merely gives them the justification they’re looking for to fire certain employees.
What Should I Do If I Was Fired As A Result of Gender & Recessionary Discrimination?
You may have a gender discrimination claim if you’ve been fired during a recession (or at any other time) because of your sex, gender, or gender expression. Steps to take if you believe this has happened or will happen include:
- Collecting evidence of discrimination (such as emails, logs of discriminatory behavior among coworkers, etc.)
- Filing an official report with HR and/or your supervisor
- Filing a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
Additionally, if you believe you have a case, strongly consider reviewing it with a gender discrimination and employee rights attorney. They may be able to help you see that justice is served.
Get Help With Your Discrimination Claim
If you have a valid case, you may be eligible to receive financial compensation. You might also seek reinstatement to a job you’ve lost for illegal reasons.
