Atlanta Employment Discrimination Attorney
Most employees in Georgia are hired “at will.” This means they can quit or be terminated at any time, without giving advance notice or a reason for the separation. Even at-will employees have rights, however, and one of the most important job protections employees enjoy is the right to be free from unlawful discrimination in the workplace. Unfortunately, employers in Georgia and across the country violate workers’ rights every day. Workers are not hired, or they are fired, or they are adversely treated in countless different ways because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or other characteristics.
Such unfair treatment is wrong, it’s against the law, and workers who have been unlawfully discriminated against can do something about it. The Forsythe Law Firm can help. Our lead attorney Christine Forsythe is an experienced employment lawyer who is actively involved in national employment law organizations and have represented employees in federal courts. Our firm works toward stopping and ending employment discrimination on a systemic level while also fighting for the rights of workers one employee at a time. Contact our dedicated Atlanta employment discrimination lawyer today.
Employment Discrimination Can Happen at Any Part of the Employment Process
Employment discrimination laws cover discriminatory treatment in every stage of employment, including the pre-employment application process and throughout the term of employment. Discriminatory treatment that results in adverse consequences in any of the following areas, among others, is illegal:
- Job applications
- Job interviews
- Hiring decisions
- Work assignments
- Transfers
- Promotions
- Bonuses
- Demotion
- Discipline
- Termination
Employment Discrimination Laws Protect Workers Based on Many Different Characteristics
The federal government has passed many different laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. These laws protect workers from discrimination based on certain inherent characteristics. Some of the major employment discrimination laws and protections include the following:
Title VII – Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
ADA – The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits disability discrimination. Protected workers include qualified individuals with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, provided they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. The ADA protects individuals with a disability as well as those with a history of disability or who are regarded as disabled even if they don’t have a disability.
ADEA – The Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits discrimination against applicants and employees based on their age. Persons aged 40 or over are protected under the ADA.
PDA – The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 prohibits discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
EPA – The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women receive equal pay for substantially equal work.
GINA – The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 makes it illegal to discriminate against employees or applicants based on their genetic information. Employers are prohibited from using genetic information in making employment decisions and are restricted from requesting, requiring or purchasing genetic information, and they are strictly limited from disclosing genetic information.
Georgia FEPA – At the state level, the Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act protects state employees from discrimination in public employment with Georgia government agencies.
Additionally, the Supreme Court ruled in a landmark 2020 decision out of Georgia (Bostock v. Clayton County) that Title VII prohibits discrimination based on one’s sexual orientation, including discrimination against gay or transgender individuals.
How The Forsythe Law Firm Helps Victims of Employment Discrimination in Atlanta
The first step in pursuing a claim for employment discrimination in most cases is to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Most employment discrimination laws, like Title VII, apply to employers with at least 15 employees, with some exceptions. For instance, every employee of any size is covered by the Equal Pay Act, which requires employers to provide equal pay for substantially equal work to men and women. Also, employers with at least four employees are prohibited from discriminating based on an employee’s or applicant’s citizenship status. On the other hand, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) only applies to employers with at least 20 employees.
As an employee, there are time limitations governing your right to file a charge with the EEOC, and the sooner you file a charge, the easier it will be to investigate your case and gather evidence. If the EEOC fails to conduct an investigation within the required time frame or decides not to pursue any action against the employer, they will issue a “right to sue” letter to the employee, enabling you to move forward and bring a civil claim in federal court against your employer.
The Forsythe Law Firm is your voice and representative throughout the life of your employment discrimination claim. With extensive experience litigating cases in Georgia state and federal courts, we’ll build and present a strong case proving the employment discrimination and the damages it caused. To win an employment discrimination lawsuit, it takes more than just showing you are a member of a protected class and an adverse employment decision was taken against you. Employers will often come back with what looks like a legitimate nondiscriminatory reason for the termination or other action they took. In our experience, however, this reason is often a pretext the employer uses to hide their discrimination. Proving that the employer’s “legitimate nondiscriminatory reason” is only a pretext masking discrimination can be a difficult task to accomplish, which is why you want an experienced and determined employment discrimination lawyer on your side.
At The Forsythe Law Firm, we know how to prepare a strong employment discrimination case and argue persuasively to a judge and jury. We’ll work to win your case and secure the remedies most appropriate to your situation, including job placement or reinstatement, a promotion you were denied, back pay and benefits, front pay, and money damages for the financial and emotional harm the discrimination has caused you. We’ll also see to it that the employer is required to stop their discriminatory practices and prevent discrimination in the future. Our firm seeks punitive damages in appropriate cases, and we’ll seek an order from the court requiring your employer to pay for our fees and costs so that you are not out any expenses to pursue justice in your case.
Contact The Forsythe Law Firm Today
If you have been the victim of employment discrimination in Atlanta or surrounding areas, we want to hear from you. We welcome the opportunity to learn about your case and let you know how we can help. Call our experienced Atlanta employment discrimination lawyer today.
