Maryland EEO Lawyer
Discrimination in the workplace is unacceptable, and if you’ve suffered mistreatment, it’s important to file a claim. Contact an EEO attorney in Maryland to get started.
Employers sometimes discriminate against employees, and usually, they disguise this mistreatment with apparently ethical reasoning for the behavior. Whether an employer denies an employee a job, a promotion or a pay raise or unexpectedly discharges them from work, the underlying cause for the action should never be prejudice of any kind.
If you believe your Maryland employer has discriminated against you, you may file a complaint and take steps to hold them legally liable. At Snider & Associates, LLC, we commit to seeking justice on behalf of mistreated workers. A Maryland EEO lawyer from our team can fight on your behalf and help you gain the respect you deserve. Hopefully, you’ll walk away from your case feeling vindicated.
Antidiscrimination Laws in Maryland and the U.S.
There are many antidiscrimination laws that protect employees in the workplace. The U.S. government has put statutes such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 in place to outlaw discrimination in the workplace based on sex, race, color, religion, or national origin. Other federal acts protecting employees from discrimination include:
- The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
- The Equal Pay Act
- The Americans with Disabilities Act
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act
While these laws may not always prevent discrimination from occurring on the front end, they’re enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Employers can face serious consequences on the back end if they’re found guilty of breaking any of these laws.
Many states, including Maryland, also work to give employees double protection against discrimination by creating their own policies. Maryland, for example, has an antidiscrimination law in place that makes it illegal for employers to discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information.
How Discrimination Can Present Itself in the Workplace
It’s not always easy to identify when discrimination is taking place at work. If an employer denies a potential employee an interview for a job, it’s hard to tell whether or not the reason was ethical; however, other forms of discrimination may be more obvious.
Discrimination comprises offensive jokes, harassment, and crude remarks relating to an employee’s gender, race, religion, or disability. If an employer denies an employee bonuses, benefits, or promotions because of their pregnancy status, genetic makeup, or religious affiliation, discrimination may also be the underlying cause.
If you feel you’re being mistreated at work, you can begin taking notes on the mistreatment and try to gather witness testimonies from other coworkers who may have seen the discrimination in action. This can support your case when you file a claim.
Navigating the EEO Complaint Process in Maryland
As a federal employee, you have the option to file a discrimination complaint with the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR) or with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If you file with the EEOC, you can speak directly to your company’s EEO counselor to discuss your case.
You may have to go to EEO counseling or mediation before you can file an official discrimination complaint, but if mediation with your employer doesn’t resolve the dispute, then the EEOC will investigate your claim and determine whether your employer has broken any laws. In addition, you’ll have multiple opportunities throughout the EEO complaint process to drop the case and file a lawsuit instead.
Seek Help from a Maryland EEO Attorney
Navigating the Maryland EEO claims process can seem complex, but when you have an experienced attorney by your side, you’ll feel confident fighting for what you deserve. To discuss your case in greater detail with a Maryland EEO lawyer from Snider & Associates, LLC, call 410-653-9060 or fill out the contact form below to schedule a consultation.