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Understanding Federal Employment Discrimination Laws
Federal laws set the foundation for protecting employees from workplace discrimination.
These laws include:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: Prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act(ADEA): Protects employees aged 40 and older.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA): Protects individuals with disabilities from discrimination and requires reasonable accommodations.
- The Equal Pay Act(EPA): Ensures equal pay for equal work regardless of gender.
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act(PDA): Prohibits discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related conditions.
These laws are enforced by federal agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and apply to most workplaces with 15 or more employees. However, while federal laws provide a baseline of protection, state and local laws often go further to address specific forms of discrimination.
State-Specific Employment Discrimination Laws
In states like California, New York, and Pennsylvania, additional protections exist that employees should understand and employers must follow.
For California, they include:
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) provides some of the most comprehensive anti-discrimination protections in the country.
FEHA:
- Covers employers with as few as five employees.
- Prohibits discrimination based on a broader range of categories, including sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, and medical conditions.
- Provides stronger protections for employees with disabilities, requiring more extensive reasonable accommodations.
For Pennsylvania, they include:
Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) prohibits discrimination based on additional characteristics, such as ancestry. Philadelphia further expands protections by addressing discrimination based on familial status, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
The city also enforces the Fair Practices Ordinance, which includes unique provisions like the prohibition of wage history inquiries during hiring.
New York State and New York City have some of the most robust anti-discrimination laws, including:
- The New York State Human Rights Law applies to all employers, regardless of size, and protects against discrimination based on age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and more.
- The New York City Human Rights Law expands protections further by prohibiting discrimination based on citizenship status, caregiver status, and unemployment status.
- Employers in New York City must also comply with requirements for salary transparency in job postings.
Common Ways Discrimination Laws Are Broken
Despite these protections, employers sometimes violate anti-discrimination laws in ways that include:
- Failing to accommodate employees with disabilities or religious practices.
- Engaging in retaliation against employees who report discrimination.
- Implementing policies or practices that disproportionately harm certain groups (disparate impact).
- Allowing harassment or hostile work environments to persist.
- Unequal pay practices and wage discrimination.
How Omni Law Can Help Employees
At Omni Law, we provide dedicated legal services to employees who have experienced discrimination in the workplace.
Including (We’ll link to these pages once created):
- Age Discrimination.
- Disability Discrimination.
- Gender Discrimination.
- Pregnancy Discrimination.
- Racial Discrimination.
- Religious Discrimination.
- Retaliation for Pursuing a Discrimination Claim.
Our experienced attorneys:
- Advocate for Employees’ Rights: If you are a victim of workplace discrimination, we can help you file claims with the EEOC or state agencies, negotiate settlements, and pursue litigation when necessary.
- Seek Justice for Retaliation: We represent employees who have faced retaliation for reporting discrimination or asserting their rights.
- Pursue Compensation: We help clients recover damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and other harms caused by discrimination.
- Navigate Complex Cases: With experience in federal and state laws, we ensure our clients’ rights are fully protected, regardless of the complexities involved.
Contact Our Skilled Employment Discrimination Attorneys at Omni Law Today
If you are facing workplace discrimination, Omni Law P.C. is here to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our experienced employment discrimination attorneys in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, or New York City. Together, we can work to protect your rights, pursue justice, and ensure a fair and equitable workplace.
Alex Davis
Alex Davis is the founding member of Omni Law P.C. His practice focuses on providing high level strategic advice and guidance on deal structures, negotiating complex transactions, and offering personalized legal services.
Kathy Fox
Maclean Bowers
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