Everyone deserves fair treatment at their place of work. To help achieve this, specific federal and state laws serve to protect employees from being discriminated against based on everything from sex to racial background.
Suppose you’ve experienced wrongful termination or have felt that your civil rights were violated in your place of work. In that case, it’s vital to reach out to a civil rights complaints attorney in Columbus, Ohio, for help right away. The compassionate team at Oliver Law Office can fight for justice on your behalf with confidence, courage, and determination.
Discrimination and harassment can appear in many guises in the workplace. Actions can be subtle, and people often hesitate to get assistance from lawyers for age, sex, or race discrimination because they’re not sure if they have a valid claim. You will need to meet a few requirements to establish whether you are a victim of discrimination under the law.
First, you must fall into one of the legally protected categories. You will then need to establish that you are qualified to apply for the position or hold the position you had. Finally, you must demonstrate that you suffered an adverse job action because of discrimination.
If you can establish these factors for the appropriate court or agency, then your employer will have the burden of proof to show that the discrimination didn’t occur. Alternatively, they can say you don’t qualify to bring the claim forward.
In this case, the burden of proof shifts to you again. You must demonstrate that an overt act of discrimination occurred or that a pattern of discrimination evolved over time. If your employer brings up a non-discriminatory reason for taking the adverse job action, then it is also up to you to prove that the reason is an excuse.
As you can see, the process of demonstrating that you were a victim of employment discrimination is complex. To have the best chance of getting justice, you need to have a workplace discrimination lawyer in Columbus on your side.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a government body created to protect employees’ rights at the federal level. Congress has passed several federal laws that apply to employers with at least 15 employees. But what rules does the EEOC enforce?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) prohibits discrimination against someone based on their:
It also prohibits retaliation against someone who complains about discrimination, participates in a discrimination lawsuit or investigation, or files a charge of discrimination. Similarly, employers must reasonably accommodate an employee’s religious practices.
Employers are prohibited from discriminating against people based on their age. The act protects people 40 or older.
The law requires that employers reasonably accommodate an otherwise qualified person’s known mental or physical limitations.
The EEOC is a federal entity, while the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) is a state-level agency. The OCRC primarily investigates discrimination charges in employment, transportation, housing, and other sectors. If the OCRC finds that an employer has violated your rights, it can order them to reinstate you, hire you, or provide back pay.
It’s important to rely on an Ohio civil rights violations lawyer when filing charges with the OCRC because you will likely be filing with the EEOC simultaneously. You don’t want to take this on alone for a number of reasons.
While the EEOC or OCRC will investigate your claim, they do not provide the individualized attention that an employment discrimination attorney can offer. This personalized support is vital during this complex process for several reasons.
Whether you’re filing a discrimination claim in Ohio via the OCRC or EEOC, remember that you only have one chance to succeed. Once either of these entities rules on your case, you can’t bring the same claims up again in a court proceeding.
With a Columbus, Ohio, EEOC attorney on your side, you may also have the opportunity to receive higher compensation for what you’ve been through. The EEOC and OCRC are limited in what they can offer, with back pay, reinstatement, or hiring being the most they can do. But that’s not the case if you go to court.
A discrimination lawyer in Columbus, Ohio, can help you get damages for the pain and suffering you’ve undergone, as well as for any expenses you’ve had while searching for a new job and other losses beyond back pay that you’ve experienced, like vacation days and holiday pay.
The aftermath of an act of employment discrimination can affect you emotionally and financially, and facing the OCRC or EEOC process can be daunting. However, it’s essential to know you’re not alone.
When you turn to an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Ohio Civil Rights Commission attorney, you can get compensation and justice for your suffering. At Oliver Law Office, we have years of experience advocating for victims of discriminatory practices in the workplace.
