If you’ve been a victim of employment discrimination, you’re aware of the emotional and financial toll it can take on a person. Fortunately, Pennsylvania law includes provisions that allow you to reclaim any financial losses you’ve experienced as a result of your workplace discrimination.
Filing a lawsuit against your employer isn’t an easy task. You’ll need an experienced employment discrimination lawyer in Philadelphia to help you build a strong case. The attorneys at Morelli Law have dealt with thousands of incidents just like yours. They have the legal knowledge and resources necessary to recover payment for your losses.
A woman is mistreated at work because of her age. If your employer has discriminated against you because of your age, race, gender, or religion, a Philadelphia employment discrimination attorney can help you file a complaint and a lawsuit.
How Much an Employment Discrimination Lawsuit Is Worth
If you are discriminated against by an employer, you could potentially lose job offers, promotions, benefits, and other perks that come with employment. The value of your discrimination lawsuit will depend on your specific losses and the size of your company.
Businesses with fewer employees will have smaller limits on the damages you can recover. For example, if you work for a company that only has 15 employees, your damages will be limited to $50,000. However, a company with more than 500 employees could have a limit as high as $300,000.
Steps to Take Before Filing a Discrimination Lawsuit
When faced with employment discrimination, you may feel anxious and unsure about your future. You might also worry about retaliation from higher ups for speaking out. In reality, you do have options for recourse and you shouldn’t fear making use of them. If you choose to take action, the attorneys at Morelli Law are here to back you up and advocate on your behalf.
Before filing a discrimination lawsuit, you should make your supervisor or boss aware of the situation. This will give them a chance to correct the situation. If no action is taken, you can file a formal complaint to initiate a lawsuit. In order to successfully pursue an employment discrimination lawsuit, you will need to follow the proper procedure and build a strong case.
Philadelphia Employment Discrimination Lawyer Near Me 877-751-9800
File a Complaint Before Suing Your Philadelphia Employer for Discrimination
If you decide to pursue compensation, you’ll want to file a formal complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) within 180 days of the discriminatory incident.
They’ll investigate your claim and, if they’re unable to resolve it, give you permission to move forward with a state lawsuit. A Philadelphia employment discrimination lawyer can answer any questions you have about this process and make sure you claim is filed on time.
You will need evidence to support your claim, as your case will be thoroughly investigated for validity. It’s also essential that your lawsuit is responding to discrimination against a federally protected group. A lawyer can advise you on protected classes, ensure you have the evidence to back up your claim, and file the relevant paperwork correctly.
Groups That Are Protected From Employment Discrimination in Philadelphia
According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects people from being discriminated against in the workplace. Some of the forms of discrimination that the law protects workers against include:
- Age
- Disability
- Equal pay
- Genetic information
- National origin
- Pregnancy
- Race/Color
- Religion
- Retaliation
- Sex/Gender
Employment discrimination is unlawful and immoral, but it’s unfortunately still a reality of the modern day workplace. An employment discrimination attorney in Philadelphia can help you determine the best course of action to take. They’ll guide you through every step of the process to ensure you get the payment you deserve.
Statute of Limitations for Workplace Discrimination Lawsuits
Once you’ve been given the “go ahead” to pursue a lawsuit against your employer, your time to file will be limited. According to Pennsylvania law, you’ll have to submit your suit within two years from the date that the PHRC gave you permission to file.
Failing to file your lawsuit before Pennsylvania’s legal deadline could mean that you’ll go uncompensated. Don’t make the mistake of delaying legal action. Talk to an employment discrimination attorney from our firm ASAP.
Types of Employment Discrimination We Can Help You With
Employers are well aware that employment discrimination is against the law, which is why many will try to be subtle in their wrongdoing. However, if you work for a company long enough, you may begin to see patterns of prejudice emerge. Some of the ways that employers may practice employment discrimination include:
- Wrongful termination
- Denial of company benefits
- Losing shift work
- Denial of disability pay or maternity leave
- Refusal of retirement options
- Showing preferential treatment to others
- Excluding people from the interview process for hiring
Employers may make insulting, rude, or hurtful comments toward you because of your age, sex, or race. This behavior can cause emotional trauma and create a hostile working environment. You may even feel forced to quit because of the stress and anxiety you feel at work.
If your employer is engaging in employment discrimination in any way, an attorney from our firm can help you. Our team has worked on thousands of different discrimination cases and will do everything in their power to deliver the justice you’re entitled to.
Recoverable Damages From Employment Discrimination
The end goal of filing an employment discrimination lawsuit is to win damages that can be used to cover the losses you’ve suffered. Depending on details of your discrimination case, an employment discrimination lawyer in Philadelphia may be able to secure one or more of the following damages:
- Lost income, including back pay and front pay
- Punitive damages
- Emotional pain and suffering
- Monetary damages from lost benefits
The injustices you’ve experienced are likely causing you a great deal of anxiety, fear, and stress, but our team is here for you. Our discrimination lawyers will work tirelessly to win you the payment you need to feel like the old you again.
Additional Laws Concerning Employment Discrimination in Philadelphia
In addition to the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act also prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. If you believe that your employer is treating you unfairly because of your background, we can hold them accountable for their behavior.
Amendments made to this legislation have paved the way for the recovery of compensatory and punitive damages. If you are discriminated against in Philadelphia, the law is on your side, and so is the team at Morelli Law Firm.
Steps Our Attorneys Will Take to Ensure Your Discrimination Claim Is Successful
Our employment discrimination attorneys in Philadelphia will take the following actions to win you a fair settlement or jury verdict:
- Investigating relevant evidence
- Interviewing witnesses
- Calculating damages from lost wages
- Filing paperwork
- Handling the negotiations for a fair settlement
- Gathering the evidence for a court trial, if necessary
With the aid of a lawyer, you may be well on your way to recovering your lost monetary damages. Once you have been vindicated, you can expect a huge weight to be lifted off your shoulders.
Contingency Fee Representation for Victims of Workplace Discrimination
Hiring a skilled attorney to litigate your workplace discrimination case is incredibly easy and affordable. That’s because our attorneys are willing to take your case on for a contingency fee.
A contingency fee is a portion of your total compensation that your lawyer will take to cover their legal advice and services. At no point will you have to pay out-of-pocket for our services. If your case is unsuccessful, you won’t owe us anything.
Work With a Philadelphia Employment Discrimination Lawyer
At Morelli Law Firm, our Philadelphia employment discrimination lawyers are ready to help you. They will protect your rights, guide you through your claim, and ensure your lawsuit is filed before the legal deadline imposed by the state of Pennsylvania.
Discrimination in the workplace should never be tolerated. If you’re a victim, we can help. We will use every resource we have to see that justice is served. Contact us to schedule your free, no-obligation case evaluation. We look forward to representing you.