Discrimination Litigation Lawyer
Managing workplace sexual discrimination can be confusing for someone not trained in this area of practice. This is one big reason many choose not to take action for unfair treatment. How should you proceed in the event you learn that you are not being paid the same as your counterpart in the company you work for? Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to experience sexual discrimination, especially when it comes to disparity in pay. Taking action may be in your best interest when faced with discrimination issues in the workplace.
Sexual Discrimination
Sexual discrimination is when a person is treated unfairly in the workplace based on their gender. Unfortunately, woman primarily experience this differential in the workforce, even in present day. In order for sexual discrimination to have occured, the treatment you have experienced must be unequal and related to your sex. Examples of sexual discrimination include:
- Unequal Pay
- Sexual Harassment
- Failure to Secure a Promotion based on Sex
- Unequal Opportunities within the workplace
- Sexual Statements that are inappropriate
- Disparity in expectations surrounding job performance
As a hardworking person in the workplace, it can be maddening to learn that someone of the opposite sex is being paid more and provided with more opportunities. One of the primary ways to instill change is by taking action. An attorney may be able to assist you through this process.
Taking Action
One of the biggest reasons people choose not to take action is because they don’t know where to start, and they believe their complaint will go nowhere. Here are some steps you may want to consider taking when faced with such a situation:
- If you plan to approach your employer, think carefully of your strategy of how you will manage this. You will want to make sure that you are constructive in how you discuss this with your employer.
- Don’t drop the subject. Make sure you follow up with your employer later.
- If you have discovered a pay disparity, it may be a good idea to first consult with an attorney. Such cases can be difficult to prove, having an idea of whether you have a case may be a helpful way to initiate the process.
- File a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within the appropriate timeframes. You have a limited time frame in order to do this as few as 180 days from the time you discovered there was a difference in pay.
An attorney may be able to play a key role when enduring this process. Not only does the representation of an attorney result in people taking you more seriously, you are more likely to have a better idea of the road that lies ahead.
More on Unequal Pay
In today’s society, one would think that women and men would be treated equally in the workplace. Unfortunately, unequal pay is still something that occurs on a regular basis. In a study conducted by the US Census Bureau in 2017, it was deciphered that on average women make only about 80% of what men make. This number is a staggering one to contend with. Although progress towards equal pay has been made, it has been slow going.
To learn that you have not been treated the same as someone of the opposite sex can be incredibly frustrating. Taking action can feel even more daunting, especially if your employer has not behaved appropriately or responded to your complaint. An attorney, like a discrimination litigation lawyer in Washington, DC from Eric Siegel Law, may be a useful source of information when it comes to determining the appropriate course of action, they may also be able to protect your rights throughout the process.