Employment discrimination is a broad area of the law intended to protect people from harassment and unfair treatment in the workplace. While people may have a basic understanding of their rights, it’s essential to dig deeper to understand exactly what ways the law is on your side.
Our firm is dedicated to ensuring that each of our clients clearly knows their rights and what they can do should those rights ever be violated. We are here to offer the guidance you need to ensure that you don’t experience employment discrimination, and if you do, you can count on our firm to assist you every step of the way.
What Is Employment Discrimination?
Unfortunately, discrimination occurs in the lives of people every single day. In simplest terms, to discriminate against someone is to treat them differently based on a particular reason. It’s important that people understand their rights regarding discrimination, especially in the workplace.
In fact, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission protects individuals from employment-related discrimination based on:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex
- National origin
- Disability
- Age
- Genetic information
Such laws are put in place to protect individuals from unfair treatment, harassment, retaliation, improper questioning, or the denial of reasonable workplace changes.
ADA and ADA Amendment Act
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was first introduced in 1990 to be more inclusive to individuals with disabilities in the workplace and society as a whole. In 2008, the ADA Amendment Act focused on expanding protections provided in the original ADA, ensuring that language was clear and that the law was enforceable. Particularly, the emphasis was placed on defining terms such as disability and what employer obligations should be for persons with impairments. Essentially, the ADA and ADA Amendment Act provided the necessary protections for individuals with disabilities so that they, too, could have a harmonious workplace and a clear path forward should an employer violate their rights.
Discrimination, Harassment, and Civil Rights Laws
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 guarantees that people will have a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment. The law indicates that an employer cannot create a hostile work environment for employees based on their religion, color, sex, race, national origin. Over time, amendments have been made to the law to include age and disabilities. In the event that harassment or discrimination does occur, then people have the right to seek out damages and remedies that are satisfactory to their claim.
View Discrimination, Harassment & Civil Rights Laws
Northern VA Employment Discrimination Laws
Our firm understands that people may feel overwhelmed working through the lengthy legality associated with employment discrimination. That is why we are committed to ensuring that you understand your rights. In addition to the general understanding of employment discrimination, we also want our clients to be aware that if your job is in Northern VA, you may have additional protections.
View Northern VA Employment Discrimination Laws
Work With A Qualified Attorney
In Northern Virginia, you’ll discover that the City of Alexandria and Prince William, Fairfax, and Arlington Counties have created additional human rights laws that go even further toward protecting you in the workplace. At the Brown Firm, our talented team works to provide the best solution for you. Please contact our office to learn more. You can reach us by phone at 703.828.0900 or send in a contact form online. We look forward to hearing from you!
