Federal and state law prohibits discrimination if you are a part of a protected class. If you can prove that you were subject to an adverse employment action because of discrimination, you may be able to file a lawsuit to receive financial compensation.
Protected classes include:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity),
- National origin
- Age (40 or older)
- Disability
- Genetic information
The problem is that businesses will never tell you the real reason why you were terminated. They are not foolish enough to actually admit to discrimination because it will cost them a lot of money. The challenge is that you may not be able to gather direct evidence that shows a discriminatory intent behind your termination. Most often, you would prove your discrimination case through the use of circumstantial evidence. If you can show that you were part of a protected class, were fired, and replaced with someone who was not a part of the protected class, the employer would then have the burden to show that they did not discriminate against you.
If you believe that you were a victim of discrimination on the job, you would need to first file a report with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC would either file a lawsuit against your employer or tell you to go ahead and file the case on your own. You may be entitled to significant compensation if your case is successful, including both back wages and compensation for your emotional distress.
Contact an Atlanta Employment Attorney Today
Battleson Law LLC will fight hard for your legal rights and possible financial compensation when you have been the victim of employment discrimination. You can reach out to us online or call us today at 470.766.0811 to speak to an attorney.