Employers need to uphold your legal rights under federal and state law during the hiring process and throughout your employment. If you experience any form of discrimination at a job, an employment discrimination lawyer in Albany may be able to help you file a lawsuit.
At Morelli Law Firm, we understand the specific rights that protect you at work, and we will help you take steps to seek compensation for your damages. If you are considering legal action for discrimination you have faced at work, our team offers complimentary case assessments.
Types of Workplace Discrimination Cases We Handle
There are many types of workplace discrimination that our team can build your case around. We’ve outlined examples below:
Sexual Harassment
This involves unwelcome physical or verbal sexual requests or advancements in the workplace. This can include being threatened with having a promotion or pay raise withheld unless you agree to participate in sexual activities with a decision maker or person of influence in your workplace.
Genetic Information
According to the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, it is a violation of your rights if your employer discriminates against you due to your genetic information.
The submission of genetic testing results is sometimes necessary for certain occupations or for health benefits and insurance purposes. Genetic testing can indicate a number of health conditions that could appear in the future, such as being predisposed to cancer.
An undesirable characteristic found in the genetic information sometimes results in unscrupulous employers treating employees unfairly by refusing their employment or benefits. Consult with an employment discrimination attorney if you believe these rights have been violated.
Pregnancy
Aside from requiring the employer to offer reasonable accommodations, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act prohibits any form of discrimination against pregnant women at their workplace. For example, some employers unfairly fire pregnant employees to avoid providing paid maternity leave.
Disability
The Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act forbid employers from discriminating against future and current employees based on their medical, mental, and physical conditions. Additionally, the employer must ensure that the work environment can accommodate people living with disabilities.
Nation of Origin
The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act prevents employers from discriminating against workers based on their immigration status or citizenship. Thus, your boss cannot fire you or choose not to employ you based on your ethnicity. An employment discrimination law firm can help you fight for your rights.
Equal Pay
According to the Equal Pay Act, your boss cannot underpay you for comparable positions, qualifications, and experience due to your gender, marital status, religion, skin color, nation of origin, disability, age, or race.
Religion
It is illegal for your employers to treat you unfavorably due to your religious beliefs. As long as it does not present an undue burden at the workplace, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to accommodate all spiritual practices.
Age
According to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, your employer cannot treat you disparagingly because of your age. As long as you can deliver accordingly, you have a right to equal treatment in your workplace. You can pursue a case with the help of an employment discrimination lawyer.
Sexual Orientation
Many states are starting to implement similar requirements to avoid unfair treatment of the LGBTQ+ community at their places of work.
Sexual Identity
This type of discrimination occurs when you face unfair treatment based on your gender or sexual identity. If you are a transgender person who has faced discrimination due to your identity, contact us for a consultation on your case.
If you encounter discrimination in any of these types of situations in Albany, our team at Morelli Law Firm can fight for you. An employment discrimination lawyer from our firm may be able to help you recover compensation.
What Are My Rights in the Workplace?
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces workplace rights for United States employees and job applicants, regardless of their citizenship or the status of their work authorization. Nearly everyone is protected by these laws.
Employers with at a minimum of 15 employees, and federal government agencies must abide by EEOC laws. If you work for a covered employer, you can be part or full time, seasonal, temporary, or a union member and fall under the protection of Equal Employment Opportunity standards.
Under the law of the United States, if you are employed here by a covered employer you are entitled to a workplace that is free from:
- Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or genetic information, pregnancy status, or age (over 40). No decisions about your employment are allowed to be determined by anything regarding these factors.
- Harassment based on any of the factors listed above. Harassment protection extends to those around you. You cannot be punished for associating with someone who has filed a complaint about harassment. This is called retaliation, and it’s illegal.
You also have the right to:
- Reasonable accommodation for your religious or medical requests. Your employer must at least consider your requests and accommodate you if they are reasonable. The laws in place also don’t permit employers from treating you differently due to your religion or disability.
- Confidentiality of your medical information. Any medical or genetic information that is shared with an employer falls under strict confidentiality rules. There are a few exceptions, but in general your medical information must remain private.
If you have experienced unlawful workplace harassment or believe you have been the victim of any of these discriminatory practices, you can pursue a case with the help of an Albany employment discrimination lawyer.
Albany Employment Discrimination Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
You Don’t Have to Tolerate Discrimination in the Workplace
Workplace discrimination can occur when the employer treats a worker or a job applicant unfavorably based on a variety of factors, such as their:
- Gender/sex
- Religion
- Skin color
- Nation of origin and immigration status
- Disability and medical condition
- Race and ethnicity
Bear in mind that other coworkers may also discriminate against you. Although there are many federal and state regulations that protect your rights when you are at work, many people are not aware of such laws.
Some employers might take advantage of your ignorance and discriminate against you. An employment discrimination attorney can evaluate your situation and help you to weigh the possibilities in pursuing a case.
How Employers Should Act to Minimize Workplace Discrimination
There are several ways to minimize the risks of discrimination issues in the workplace. Namely, employers should have a comprehensive and clear discrimination policy that clarifies the procedure for filing a complaint. You can often find such policies in the employee handbook.
Taking these steps can help to ensure all employees’ interests are protected at work. When companies fail to uphold these policies, workers can file a lawsuit or a complaint with the EEOC based on this policy.
Benefits of Hiring An Albany Employment Discrimination Lawyer for Your Case
When you work with a lawyer experienced in employment law, their job is to ascertain the best legal avenues to pursue and to represent you by speaking on your behalf. You will not have to face the other parties alone.
You have a strict time frame to file your claim with the EEOC and have your case prepared. An employment discrimination attorney in Albany can handle the legal paperwork and build your claim while adhering to the deadlines.
The EEOC will begin the mediation session and investigation. Your lawyer will represent you in the mediation process and negotiating will take place. If negotiations do not reach a satisfactory end, your attorney and legal team will already be prepared for trial, and ready to defend your rights in court.
A Lawyer Can File All Your Paperwork on Time for You
The Albany employment discrimination lawyers at our firm can help you understand your rights as a worker and support you through legal action. Our goal is to recover damages for what you experienced and stop the cycle of discrimination at your workplace.
When you work with our team, you can expect the following services throughout your case. We will:
- Give you the space to discuss the discrimination you experienced
- Collect evidence to verify the discriminatory behavior that occurred
- Identify the at-fault and liable parties
- Provide guidance and advice on your legal options
- Represent you in all communications so that you do not have to speak with the at-fault party
- Use evidence and calculations to estimate a fair case value
- File the paperwork to begin your claim or lawsuit
- Advocate for your right to a settlement or court award
As we move through each phase of the complaint process, we’ll be by your side to answer your questions, keep you informed, and provide legal advice.
Our Past Results in Employment Discrimination Cases
We’ve helped clients secure up to millions in damages in various cases throughout our years of service. Some of our past wins for workplace discrimination include:
- $1.355 million for a man who was terminated after internally reporting SOX violations
- $1.8 million for victims of workplace bullying
- $800,000 for pregnancy-related discrimination at a fashion company
We can let you know how much your discrimination case may be worth and your chances of winning after reviewing the details during a complimentary assessment. Our employment discrimination lawyers understand the type of discrimination you’ve experienced and will work to uncover evidence to support your claim.
Reach Out to Our Attorneys for Legal Representation Today
If you have been in the same workplace for years, the chances are that you consider your boss and coworkers like family. You trust that your workplace is where you feel safe, understood, and valued. However, when discrimination occurs, it can be disheartening, painful, and depressing.
Discrimination laws can be complex. If you are seeking legal representation in Albany when such issues arise at work, contact Morelli Law Firm. Our Albany employment discrimination attorneys may be able to defend your rights in an employment discrimination case and help you pursue compensation. Request a free case evaluation today.