Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed to protect employees and to set guidelines for employers to treat employees fairly. The law made discrimination against an employee for sex, race, religion, national origin, or color illegal. The law was enacted to protect both employees and job applicants. It applies to any company just so long as they have 15 or more employees.
Title VII also established the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC is a bipartisan commission that is comprised of five members appointed by the president. The EEOC enforces Title VII and other laws that protect individuals against discrimination in the workplace as well as other laws enacted to protect workers from discrimination and harassment.
Title VII and the EEOC were both created to help workers like you to be treated fairly and to put a stop to the harassment and mistreatment that are suffered because of harassment and discrimination. You should familiarize yourself with the regulations and make sure that you aren’t mistreated by your employer in different work-related matters.
What Does It Do?
Title VII protects applicants and employees. It applies to all employers regardless of whether they are private or public in nature just so long as they have 15 or more employees. It offers protections to help ensure that individuals who are qualified for a job aren’t denied the opportunity to work just because of their gender, race, ethnic background, or religious beliefs.
This means that an employer cannot simply fire you – as a competent, qualified employee – just because you are black, or because you are a Christian. It also means that you cannot be turned down for a job because you are a woman if you are capable of performing the work duties.
EEOC
If you think that you have a claim under the Title VII Act because your employer has violated it, you can file a complaint with the EEOC detailing what happened. Time is limited when it comes to filing a complaint, so you should act promptly. You have 180 days from the date of the incident to file a complaint, so you should visit the EEOC website and learn the process for getting a complaint started.
After your complaint has been filed with the EEOC, the EEOC will contact the employer and notify them of the complaint. If you aren’t yet ready to file a complaint with the EEOC, or if you aren’t sure if Title VII has been violated, you will need to review your employer’s company policy regarding sexual harassment. Be sure to maintain evidence and documentation. You should keep track of all of the important documents and be sure to jot down some notes regarding what happened, when it happened, and where it happened.
Retaliation
If you file a complaint with the EEOC, you don’t have to worry about retaliation. The law indicates that your employer cannot retaliate against you, and if they do, they are violating the law and they could face even more penalties. The law forbids discrimination in any aspect of employment, which means that discrimination in hiring and firing, compensation, job assignment, promotion, job transfer, retirement, benefits, disability and leave, and many more aspects are protected.
Some employers may try to retaliate by firing you, by giving you an undesirable work shift, or by cutting your pay, but the law protects you from such behavior. If your employer tries to retaliate, they can face harsh punishment. Be sure to keep any documentation and maintain evidence of any retaliation that your employer may exhibit after you have filed your complaint with the EEOC.
Consult With An Employment Law Attorney
If you believe you have been the victim of discrimination or sexual harassment in the workplace, you should consult with an employment law attorney who is licensed to handle such cases in your state. With the help of a lawyer, you are much more likely to recover compensation for your damages and have a successful claim. While there are many Title VII lawyers who take cases on a contingency basis, which means that they aren’t compensated until you win your claim, some do charge an hourly fee. Take the time to understand your attorney’s policies and procedures as well as how and when they expect to be paid for their services.
There is a time limit for filing a claim. If you wait too long, you cannot recover compensation for your damages. To make sure your claim is underway in a timely manner, complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page and have the details of your case shared with an employment law attorney in your area.
