Receiving unfair treatment at work based on characteristics you cannot change is a frustrating and humiliating experience. Whether your employer’s discriminatory acts are causing you mental anguish or preventing you from receiving the wages you deserve for your labor, you deserve to have your voice heard. Here at Mottaz & Sisk, our attorneys understand the stress and fear that come along with problems at work. We are here to help you understand your rights in the face of discrimination.

The attorneys at Mottaz & Sisk will help educate you about your options and empower you to take the next step at no cost to you. If you believe your employer is wrongfully discriminating against you because of your race, gender, age, or other circumstances, it’s time to take a stand and work with a Minneapolis attorney who will fight for you.

What Is Workplace Discrimination?

Workplace discrimination can appear in many forms, but every circumstance involves unfair treatment based on something you cannot change about yourself. It is illegal to discriminate against employees based on any of the following personal attributes and identifying details:

• Race
• Nationality
• Religion
• Sex
• Gender identity
• Sexual orientation
• Disability
• Marital status
• Age
• Pregnancy
• Familial status
• Public assistance

Instances of discrimination can occur when an employee is:

• Harassed
• Denied employment
• Fired
• Laid off
• Refused promotions
• Not offered equal benefits as other employees
• Mistreated in any other aspect of employment terms and conditions

If you suspect that you are a victim of workplace discrimination, seeking guidance from an experienced workplace discrimination attorney is highly recommended. Workplace discrimination can be challenging to prove, so you mustn’t try to navigate the issue on your own. You have the right to report these instances so that everyone can enjoy a safe and inviting work environment.

Laws Protecting Workers From Discrimination

Most businesses have specific company policies regarding discrimination; however, state and federal labor laws are in place to protect workers from discrimination at the governmental level. Federal protections against discrimination include:

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

The Civil Rights Act, amended in 1964, protects employees and job applicants alike from workplace or hiring discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, and sex. Title VII protects employees during all possible employment decisions, including:

• Recruitment
• Selections
• Terminations
• Promotions
• All other decisions about employment conditions

Equal Pay Act of 1963

Under the Equal Pay Act, men and women are protected from sex-based wage discrimination. Payment of wages or benefits to people who perform substantially equal work in the same workplace cannot be intentionally higher or lower based on someone’s sex.

Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967

Thanks to the Age Discrimination Act, the federal government protects people aged 40 years and older from age-based employment discrimination. Protections are implemented in the hiring process as well as in the workplace.

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

People with disabilities are protected from employment discrimination through the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Because of this law, job applicants and employees with disabilities are protected from discrimination based on their disability. This act also requires federal agencies to make reasonable accommodations for any known disabilities in the workplace.

Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978

If a person is temporarily unable to perform their job due to a pregnancy-related condition or childbirth, they are protected under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Pregnant employees must be treated the same way as any other temporarily disabled employee, and they cannot be denied employment, fired, or demoted because of pregnancy.