Gender discrimination in the workplace violates state and federal employment laws. Some of those laws include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA), and different state laws.
If you have been discriminated against because of your gender, you can pursue a complaint against your employer to stop the actions.
Federal and State Laws Against Gender Discrimination
There are several laws that prohibit gender discrimination. You need to understand these laws, and you need to file a complaint when these laws have been violated.
These laws were enacted to protect you and other workers from discrimination and inappropriate behavior of employers, supervisors, and coworkers.
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that protects employees from discrimination based on certain specific characteristics, such as race, color, national origin, sex, and religion. The employer cannot discriminate with regard to term, condition, or privilege. If an employer is found in violation of Title VII, the employee who was the victim can recover compensation for his or her damages and the company could face harsh penalties for disregarding the law.
- Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) forbids discrimination based on pregnancy when it comes to employment, including firing, hiring, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, fringe benefits such as health insurance and leave, and any other term or condition of employment. Any victim of PDA violation can file a claim to recover damages, such as lost wages, lost benefits, mental anguish, and so forth.
There are also state laws established to prohibit discrimination based on gender and many other factors, such as color, race, national origin, religion, gender identity, and so forth.
You should check your state laws as well because they may have more specific guidelines and there may be more protections offered to workers through the state legislation.
You should also review your employee handbook because your company should have policies in place that prohibit discrimination and harassment.
If your employer has violated company policy, which is in writing, then you can take legal action on those grounds as well.
You should always maintain a file of supporting documentation, such as your employee handbook, employment contract, work memos and messages, paystubs, timecards, and anything that is work-related.
Should the need to file a complaint arise, you will have supporting evidence and documentation for your claim.
What To Do Next?
If you have been subjected to gender discrimination in the workplace, you should immediately take action.
There is a statute of limitations for pursuing a claim, and if you wait too long, you cannot recoup compensation for your damages.
The law forbids discrimination as it applies to hiring, firing, pay, job assignments, promotions, layoffs, training, fringe benefits, and other aspects of employment. If you have been the victim of gender discrimination, you have suffered damages.
Some of the more common damages that result from discrimination include lost wages, lost benefits, and mental anguish.
An employment law attorney will be able to review your claim and determine which damages you suffered and the total value of your claim against your employer.
You will need to get your claim underway before the statute of limitations expire, and you will need to gather supporting evidence and documentation for your claim.
You want to be able to prove without a doubt that you did suffer from gender discrimination in the workplace and that your employer broke the law.
You should make note of any coworkers who witnessed the discrimination as they can be helpful to your claim.
You may be able to prove that there is an ongoing pattern of this behavior from your employer, and the court will want to put an end to this activity.
Fill Out A Free Evaluation Form
If you have been the victim of gender discrimination in the workplace, you should speak with an employment law attorney who handles workplace discrimination claims in your state.
An employment law attorney will be familiar with the state and federal laws that apply to your situation.
When you speak with an attorney, discuss the payment plans. Some lawyers will require a retainer to be paid in advance, but others will take cases solely on a contingency basis and not be paid until you win your gender discrimination claim and recover compensation for your damages.
If you have been the victim of gender discrimination at work, you should complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to share the details surrounding your case.
