All employees are protected against discrimination in the office, regardless of their race, sex, or religion. Discrimination can be simple, like refusing to promote a staff’s sexual orientation or age. It could also be giving preferential treatment to a specific demographic in the office. So, what do you do when you’re being discriminated against at work? Let’s get right into it.
Gather evidence
You can work with a civil rights lawyer in Fresno to seek redress in court. However, you need to have evidence of the discrimination. Quickly write down the timeline of everything leading up to the discrimination. If there were coworkers present, add them as witnesses. Also, if you have pictures, keep them safe because they would be handy if the case goes to trial.
Some people may be unable to recognize workplace discrimination because some are touted as jokes. But you should take it seriously when you notice it. Offensive jokes that border sex, race, religion, and other categories are not permitted in the workplace.
Speak to HR
The Human Resources department is built for such cases. So, present a copy of your evidence to HR and ensure that they acknowledge your claims. It also helps to find the company’s anti-discrimination policies.
Companies are allowed to create their own anti-discrimination policies. However, they must be in line with the laws of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the United States. Also, some states have specific anti-discrimination rules that you can rely on alongside your employer’s policies.
Speaking to HR is also in line with most company policies. Where HR cannot step in and solve the problem, you can pursue legal action against them.
Write to the company officially
To meet all requirements before bringing the case before a judge, you should notify the company in writing about your concerns. When the company receives your notice, they will likely launch an investigation into the matter. This is why you need to ensure that all your facts are verifiable. The evidence you collected from the beginning will come in handy here.
Pursue legal action
If the company investigates and still refuses to take action to solve the problem, then you’re within your rights to take legal action. Speak to a civil rights lawyer about the case, and they will file a complaint on your behalf. If the court finds your employer guilty of discrimination, you may be entitled to compensation for your loss.
Wait for the process’s completion
If you’re still an employee at the company, try to remain calm while the lawsuit is ongoing. Be professional and continue being diligent at your job. Employers are not allowed to retaliate against staff who are suing them for discrimination.
So you should not confront or have an altercation with the discriminator. If the discriminatory treatment continues, keep the records and present them during your case.
It may be difficult to continue working with a company after a discrimination complaint, so consider finding a new place to work when the situation has been solved.
