Employers who discriminate against workers, applicants or contractors can face stiff penalties. Under federal discrimination laws, employees are protected from discrimination based on a protected characteristic. Protected characteristics include age, disability, gender, marriage, pregnancy, race, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation. Discrimination may be direct or indirect.
In direct cases, an employee is treated unfavorably by an employer because of a protected characteristic. For example, a female employee is not promoted simply because she is a woman. Indirect discrimination occurs when an employer institutes a policy that disadvantages people who are members of a protected class. For example, an employer offers a bonus to employees with perfect attendance. Such a policy would be discriminatory against women with childcare responsibilities and disabled employees, who typically have higher absence rates than other employees.
Harassment is another type of discrimination which is defined as unwanted conduct that relates to a protected characteristic, violates dignity, and is offensive, intimidating, hostile or degrading. Discrimination in the workplace is unacceptable, and you have the right to file a claim if you are the subject of discrimination at work. Call the Philadelphia discrimination lawyers at Sidney L. Gold & Associates P.C. at 215-569-1999 or contact us online to speak with an experienced lawyer for free.
