Discrimination Attorney Lancaster

People go to work every day to earn an income that will support them and their family. Although it is not uncommon for people to dislike their jobs, most of the time, workplaces are still bearable places for employees. When discrimination enters the workplace, though, it makes life difficult for certain employees. Employment discrimination is illegal under both federal and state law. Any time an employer violates these laws, affected employees can take legal action. If you have faced unfair behavior in the workplace, it is time to contact a discrimination attorney in Lancaster who can help with your claim.

Employment Discrimination and Protected Classes

The law in America and in Ohio outlines certain protected classes. Any time an employer discriminates against an employee within these protected classes, they can be held liable in a lawsuit. The protected classes outlined by both state and federal law are as follows:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Gender
• Age
• Pregnancy
• National origin
• Disability

Employers cannot discriminate against a person based on the above characteristics. This means they cannot take those characteristics into consideration when making decisions about hiring, firing, promotions, and more.

Harassment is Also Discrimination

The law in Lancaster also stipulates that harassment is a form of discrimination. Under the law, harassment occurs any time behavior is so severe, it creates a hostile work environment. Quid pro quo harassment, or offering something in exchange for sexual favors, is another type of harassment. However, in discrimination cases, it is more likely that harassment will create a hostile work environment. This type of harassment can include displaying offensive pictures or objects, offensive slurs, physical attacks, intimidation, and more.

Employers can be held liable for harassment in the workplace even if they were not the one to initiate it. For example, if a co-worker constantly harasses another person based on their protected class, the victim of the discrimination should tell the employer, manager, or supervisor. If the individual in a position of authority does not take any action to stop the harassment, they can be held liable.

Understanding Disparate Impact Discrimination

Being subjected to racial slurs or intimidation are somewhat obvious forms of discrimination, but there are others, as well. Sometimes, employers create policies that greatly favor one class of workers over another. For example, an employer may create a test that is much easier for men to complete than women and use the results to decide which employee will get a promotion. This is known as disparate impact discrimination and while it is much more subtle, it is still against the law, and employers can still be held liable.

Our Lancaster Discrimination Attorney Can Help With Your Case

If you have been treated unfairly at work, our discrimination attorney in Lancaster can help. At Marshall Forman & Schlein LLC, our skilled attorneys are dedicated to helping employees who have faced discrimination, and we want to help you, too. Call us today or fill out our online form to schedule a consultation so we can advise on your case.