Experienced Employment Attorneys Serving the Philadelphia Area

Unfair Treatment at Work? You May Have a Claim for Employment Discrimination

A former employee going over her contract with our employment attorney in Philadelphia, PA

The 2020 Census shows the Philadelphia area as one of our nation’s largest statistical areas, home to approximately 30,000 companies employing over 679,000 individuals. But with our competitive job market, individuals often find themselves in the crosshairs of employers with little regard for their rights and physical and emotional well-being. Many are reluctant to hold these employers accountable for fear of losing their jobs.

It’s critical to be aware of your legal rights as an employee if you have experienced workplace discrimination or have suffered physical harm at work. At Silver & Silver, our experienced team of Philadelphia employment lawyers is here to protect you from uncaring, negligent, or unlawful actions by an employer.

Why Would You Need the Help of a Philadelphia Employment Attorney?

Employment law covers all matters relating to the relationship between an employee and an employer. From the hiring and firing process and workplace conduct to discrimination and employees’ legal rights, state, and federal governments have crafted hundreds of laws and regulations to empower and protect employees here in Philadelphia and throughout the nation.

As an employee, you have the right to work in a safe and fair workplace, free of harassment, discrimination, wrongful termination, negligence, and other unfair treatment under employment laws. Many companies, small businesses, and their managers don’t always abide by these important laws. The personal and financial costs of these actions can be significant for an employee.

If you feel that your employer has not acted within the parameters of the law, getting the advice and guidance of a dedicated employment lawyer in Philadelphia can be critical.

Workplace Discrimination Laws That Protect You

Discrimination in the workplace can take many forms, including hiring and promotion bias, compensation bias, harassment, job assignment, retaliation, and other types of discriminatory behavior.

Under federal laws enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other state and municipal laws, applicants and employees are protected against discrimination of all kinds in the workplace, as well as retaliation against them for complaining about that discrimination.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, and gender. It also protects against discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, and other related medical conditions. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act protects many of these same rights. These laws have established an employee’s right to file a claim against their employer and recover compensation when their legal employment rights have been denied.

If you have experienced discrimination in the workplace because of who you are, you deserve a legal advocate who will fight on your behalf. Facing a large employer can be daunting, and fear can keep you stuck in an unfair and unlawful situation. For over 40 years, the talented team of Philadelphia employment attorneys at Silver & Silver has protected employees’ rights to work in a safe and fair environment. Let us protect yours.

Click here to Read More

Race, Color, or National Origin Discrimination

If you have been singled out or treated differently from other employees because of your race, the color of your skin, or where you’re from, whether you were not hired or promoted because of it or you work in an environment where you are subjected to jokes or slurs because of it, you may have powerful legal remedies available to you.

Religious Discrimination

If you have not been allowed to practice your religious beliefs by your employer or have been harassed, fired, or otherwise mistreated because of them, you may be the subject of religious discrimination and may be entitled to file a claim for compensation.

Sex, Gender, or Pregnancy discrimination

If you have been mistreated, harassed, fired, or otherwise discriminated against because of your sex, gender, pregnancy, or action involving the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), discrimination of this kind is unethical and unlawful.

Age Discrimination

Age discrimination is more common than you might imagine. Older workers over the age of 40 are protected from workplace discrimination and termination under two federal laws – the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act of 1990.

Disability Discrimination

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with a disability. It is unlawful for an employer to terminate or punish a disabled employee for requesting reasonable accommodations for their disability.

Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination

While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act doesn’t explicitly protect individuals against employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, it has been interpreted to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination “because of sex” by some courts. State and local laws, including the Philadelphia Fair Practices Ordinance, also prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Protection from Harassment or a Hostile Work Environment in Philadelphia

You may be experiencing a hostile work environment if your employer allows actions and behaviors that would be considered intimidating, hostile, or offensive to a reasonable person. But not all unfavorable workplace conditions and actions are considered legally hostile. To legally qualify as a hostile work environment, behaviors must be directed at your race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, religion, age, or disability and must be so severe or pervasive that they change the conditions of your employment.

You may have a hostile work environment claim if you have been the subject of

Harassment
Bullying
Unwelcome sexual advances
Offensive jokes or pranks
Offensive videos, photographs, or drawings
Insults, slurs, insensitive comments, or name-calling
Violence or threats of violence
Transfer to a less-desirable location or job
Threats of discipline or termination
Unwarranted job scrutiny or discipline

It can be difficult to differentiate between unfavorable workplace conditions and legally hostile ones. If you believe you are the subject of harassment or a hostile workplace, the experienced Philadelphia discrimination lawyers at Silver & Silver will advise, guide, and advocate for you so you can seek the justice you deserve.

Understanding Wrongful Termination and Employment At-Will

Have you been unfairly terminated from your place of employment? It’s important to note that Pennsylvania is considered an “employment-at-will” state, meaning an employer has the right to terminate an employee for any reason without any explanation or notice. But at-will employment protections have exceptions, and if you have been wrongfully terminated, you have legal recourse.

In some situations, a state’s at-will status won’t matter. Your employer’s at-will protections will not apply if you’ve been terminated due to

Being in breach of your employment contract.
Unlawful discrimination under federal and state laws.
Taking advantage of actions protected by the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Exposing illegal operations within the company.
Exposing safety violations within the company.
Refusing to commit a crime on behalf of your employer.
Refusing to lie to protect your employer.
Refusing a polygraph.
Missing work because of jury duty.

Even if an employee believes they have been wrongfully terminated, the employer may prove just cause for termination that is compliant with policies and laws. If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated or denied unemployment compensation, it is important to get the advice and guidance of an experienced Philadelphia employment attorney to understand your rights.

Your Protection From Employer Retaliation

Many employees are reluctant to file complaints of discriminatory and unsafe behavior because of the fear of dismissal or retaliation by their employer. But federal and state anti-discrimination laws protect employees who complain about workplace violations or take part in other employees’ allegations and investigations of employer retaliation.

If your employer has acted in a way that has negatively impacted your employment because you filed a complaint or participated in someone else’s complaint of discrimination or harassment, even if the complaint was found to be baseless, you are protected against any retaliatory behavior by your employer.

If you have suffered a demotion, suspension, or termination because of your involvement in a claim of workplace violations against your employer, you may be entitled to bring a claim against your employer. At Silver & Silver, we can help. Our experienced employment attorneys in Philadelphia will investigate your claim and seek compensation for unlawful behavior.

You Are Legally Entitled to a Safe Work Environment

As an employee, you are entitled to safe working conditions. Unfortunately, many employees are injured or otherwise detrimentally impacted by unsafe conditions or unsafe materials, such as asbestos exposure or other harmful chemicals at work. Many are reluctant to report safety concerns out of fear of employer retaliation or the loss of their job.

You have important legal protections if you have been harmed by an unsafe work environment. Although you may be covered by workers’ compensation benefits, this will limit your rights to hold your employer accountable. Your employer’s negligence has adversely affected you and may impact others if not addressed. Call our team of skilled Philadelphia employment lawyers to understand your rights if you’ve been injured by an unsafe work environment.

Get the Help of Our Experienced Employment Attorneys in Philadelphia

At Silver & Silver, our team of experienced and talented Philadelphia employment lawyers has protected the rights of workers for over four decades. If you believe you have suffered from workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, or an unsafe work environment, we will help you seek the legal remedies you deserve. Contact us at (610) 658-1900 or through our online contact form to schedule a no-cost consultation to discuss a potential claim.

Disclosure:

This website is designed to provide only general information. The information presented on this website is not formal legal advice. You should not rely on any general information from any source for making legal decisions. Each legal matter is unique and requires specific attention from a qualified and experienced attorney. Unless a representation agreement has been signed with the Law Offices of Silver and Silver, we are not your legal representatives.