If you have been discriminated against at work in Mississippi, you have the right to file a complaint against your employer. Unfortunately, Mississippi does not have any anti-discrimination laws on the books.
This means that for you to seek a legal remedy for employment discrimination in Mississippi, you have to file a complaint at the federal level.
Working with an employment law attorney can help you build a strong enough case to either reach a settlement with your employer or receive just compensation for your financial losses.
What are the Discrimination Laws in Mississippi?
Unlike the majority of states, Mississippi has not enacted laws that protect workers against acts of discrimination in the workplace. Although there appears to be momentum to pass some type of legislation, any discrimination statute that becomes law in Mississippi will not happen until after 2021.
For workers in Mississippi, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects against employment discrimination in Mississippi except for acts of age discrimination. The United States Congress covered age discrimination when it passed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) in 1967.
Who is Protected Against Mississippi Workplace Discrimination?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides protections against discrimination in the workplace for several classes of employees.
- Color
- Religion
- Race
- Sex
- Disability
- Gener identity
- Sexual orientation
- National origin
- Citizenship status
The ADEA protects workers against age discrimination for employees that are at least 40 years old. Attempts to amend the ADEA to make it all-inclusive have repeatedly failed to get enough votes in Congress.
Which Employers in Mississippi Must Follow Federal Discrimination Laws?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits Mississippi employment discrimination for employers that have at least 15 employees. Although many states have passed discrimination laws that cover all employers, Mississippi has yet to follow the national trend for enacting workplace discrimination laws.
If you work for an employer that has fewer than 15 workers and your employer discriminated against you, contacting an employment law lawyer might help you find another way to seek justice.
What State Agency Enforces Discrimination in the Workplace Laws
Since Mississippi has not passed employment and housing discrimination legislation, any worker that wants to file a complaint about discrimination against an employer must file one with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
How Do You File a Discrimination Complaint in Mississippi?
You must file a workplace discrimination in Mississippi claim with the nearest EEOC office. The nearest EEOC field office for just about every resident of Mississippi is located in Jackson.
Jackson Area Office
- Dr. A.H. McCoy Federal Building
- 100 West Capitol Street, Suite 207
- Jackson, MS 39269
- Phone: (601) 965-4537
- TTY: (601) 965-4915
You can call the EEOC office in Jackson to schedule an appointment to discuss your complaint. The EEOC has initiated an online service that allows workers that have filed a discrimination complaint to check on the status of their complaint.
You can access the portal to upload and download documents, as well as communicate with a representative from the EEOC. Workers that have been discriminated against at work in Mississippi can access the portal through the EEOC website.
What is the Deadline for Filing an Employment Discrimination Claim?
The EEOC has set a strict deadline for workers to file discrimination claims against their employers. If you fail to file a claim with the EEOC by the end of 180 days, you can expect your claim to be dismissed by the federal agency. The 180-day clock starts ticking on the day when you last experienced discrimination in the workplace.
How Do You Get Help to File a Discrimination Claim in Mississippi?
You can file a claim with the EEOC, without the help of an employment law attorney. However, a lawyer is there to help you gather and organize evidence, as well as speak with co-workers that have witnessed discrimination against you in the workplace.
Because Mississippi does not enforce any discrimination laws, an attorney that you hire has to file a claim for you with the EEOC.
A lawyer can also decide whether you should file a civil lawsuit for one or more acts of discrimination. Some discrimination cases cost plaintiffs their jobs, which means they lost income for an extended period.
Discrimination can also cause medical issues that produce substantial medical bills. Medical issues can include a significant increase in blood pressure and/or mental health problems that can fall under the legal category of pain and suffering.Schedule a free case evaluation today with an employment law attorney.
