Employment discrimination in Georgia happens when a person or group is treated unfairly at work because he or she is a member of a legally protected category based on race, sex, age, or religion. Also, Georgia has several statutes that protect different protected groups.
The federal government has laws in place to protect protected groups from discrimination in the workplace. These federal laws are covered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.
What Kind of Discrimination Laws are in Place in Georgia?
There are several acts in place in Georgia which cover different types of employment discrimination. The Georgia Age Discrimination Act disallows employment discrimination against employees who are between the ages of 40 and 70. (GA Code Sec. 34-1-2) This applies to both public and private employers with any number of employees.
The state also has an Equal Employment Act for those with Disabilities and the code does not permit discrimination because of a disability. This statute is applicable to both public and private employers with 15 or more employees.
Georgia’s Equal Pay Act states that employers pay employees of the opposite sex equal wages for equal work. This applies to both public employers and private employers who have 10 or more employees.
Georgia’s Fair Employment Practices Act prohibits discrimination based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age and it applies to both private and public employers and a state agency with 15 or more employees.
What Employers Are Covered By Discrimination Laws In Georgia?
This depends on the type of discrimination but is applicable to employers with any number of employees or more than 10 or 15 employees. For example, Georgia’s Age Discrimination Act applies to employees aged between 40 and 70 but there is no limit to the number of employees in a workplace.
Which Georgia Agencies Regulate These Laws?
There is no specific agency that regulates ant-discrimination laws in the workplace except the Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act but there are the Georgia Age Discrimination Act, Equal Employment Act and Equal Pay Act that cover different areas of Georgia workplace discrimination.
Who is Protected by Both Federal and State Laws in Georgia?
There are laws in place covering protected classes based on race, color, disability, religion, sex, national origin, or age.
The federal laws are covered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlaws employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.
How do I File a Discrimination Claim in Georgia?
If you are filing a complaint of discrimination under the Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act, you may file a complaint with the Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity (GCEO).
Georgia doesn’t have a state administrative agency which handles workplace discrimination claims under Georgia’s different statutes. However, there are some cities and counties that have their own agency, such as Savannah and Augusta-Richmond County Human Relations.
When filing a claim under federal law for Georgia employment discrimination this is done through the Georgia’s local Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) office.
However, the EEOC now operates an online service that allows employees who have filed a discrimination complaint to check the status of their complaint online.
How Long Do I Have To File An Employment Discrimination Claim in Georgia?
Because both the EEOC and the GCEO have strict time limits to file a claim of employment discrimination you should file your workplace discrimination claim the EEOC or GCEO within 180 days from the date the discrimination took place.
The EEOC issues a document called "Dismissal and Notice of Rights" or "Notice of Right to Sue" before you are permitted to file a case based upon your federal claim. A lawsuit based on your federal discrimination claim must be filed in federal or state court within 90 days of you receiving the notice.
How Do I Get Help Filing an Employment Discrimination Claim in Georgia?
If the EEOC cannot resolve your Georgia workplace discrimination but you want to pursue your claim further matter, you will need to take your claim to court with the help of a lawyer.
Because Georgia does not have a state anti-discrimination statute, your lawyer may decide to file your Georgia employment discrimination case in the federal court. Dill out a free case evaluation today!
Additional Resources:
- How To Write A Racial Discrimination Sample Letter
- Remedies for Age Discrimination
- Sexual Harassment Resources in Georgia
