Gaithersburg Employment Attorney Fights for Workplace Discrimination Victims
Maryland firm handles job bias claims
The Law Office of Christopher J. Smith, LLC in Gaithersburg represents people who have been harmed by illegal discrimination during the hiring process or on the job. If you believe you were treated unfairly due to your race, religion, sex, color, ethnic background, age, sexual orientation or disability status, our firm is ready to help. Attorney Christopher Smith is an accomplished Maryland employment lawyer.
Type of mistreatment resulting from discrimination
Specific actions that can give rise to workplace discrimination claims include:
- Refusal to hire or interview — Some businesses don't even let people from certain groups get a foot in the door. Studies have even shown that names on resumes associated with a particular racial or ethnic group can lead to disparate treatment. If you believe you didn't get the job or the interview because of your status with a protected group, our employment attorney will investigate.
- On-the-job harassment — Racist comments, sexist pictures, insults relating to a disability and other cruel mistreatment can make the workplace intolerable. In situations where the abusive behavior is pervasive, we can advise you regarding the likelihood of a successful hostile work environment claim.
- Inappropriate duties — Harmful stereotypes lead many employers to fill jobs based on the background of individual employees rather than their skills and experience.
- Demotion and firing — You might be entitled to compensation in a wrongful termination action if you were fired for discriminatory reasons. Even though Maryland is an at-will work state, dismissals based on unlawful discrimination are not permitted. A claim could also have merit if you were demoted to an inappropriate position.
Don't hesitate to speak with a qualified attorney if you're being treated unfairly at work because of a protected personal characteristic. Our firm will review the facts immediately and outline your legal options.
Federal and state laws that protect workers
Federal workplace discrimination law dates back to Title VII of the Civil Rights act of 1964, which prohibits bias due to race, religion, sex and national origin. Subsequent legislation and state laws have added age, disability status and sexual orientation as legally protected personal characteristics. Maryland's Fair Employment Practices Act and Equal Pay for Equal Work Act add additional safeguards for workers within the state. This includes a ban on workplace harassment and legal status for LGBTQ employees as a protected group.
Despite the longstanding laws that prohibit discrimination, many businesses continue to display bias by preventing workers from reflecting aspects of their culture on the job. Maryland's Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act offers protection in this area for workers so that they can wear whatever hairstyle they choose without fear of the punishment many Black employees have received for wearing their hair natural or in braids, twists or dreadlocks.
Proving a claim against an employer
Companies accused of workplace discrimination often provide a vigorous defense that includes a legal reason why their accuser was fired, demoted or never hired in the first place. Our firm is familiar with these tactics, and whether your case involves intentional discrimination or conduct that has a discriminatory effect, we gather the evidence necessary to prove your claim. Documents or witness testimony could show direct evidence of a discriminatory intent, such as a conversation or memo stating not to hire people of a certain background. In other cases, circumstantial evidence could be useful as well, such as statistics showing that very few employees from one racial group were promoted. No matter what your claim entails, attorney Christopher Smith will prepare a comprehensive case on your behalf.
Contact a Maryland workplace discrimination lawyer to schedule a free consultation
The Law Office of Christopher J. Smith, LLC handles a full range of workplace discrimination claims for Maryland employees. For a free consultation about your legal options, please call 301-760-7460 or contact us online. Our office is in Gaithersburg.
