There are laws in place that can protect people from workplace discrimination, but things can get confusing when you are dealing with different laws passed at different levels of government. There are federal workplace discrimination laws and states can pass their own protections. Even cities can have their own workplace ordinances. If you are at all confused about what to do and which government agency to turn to after you have experienced a problem in the workplace, an Atlanta employment discrimination attorney can help you.
What Are the Federal Laws on Workplace Discrimination?
Federal laws against workplace discrimination offer broad protection against harassment or mistreatment based on certain traits. An employer cannot treat someone poorly or differently due to:
- Age
- Disability
- National origin
- Color
- Religion
- Sex
- Race
Most federal laws concerning discrimination are in effect on companies that have 15 or more employees, but some only come into effect when a company has 20 or more workers. If someone believes that they have been discriminated against at work, they can file a claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. If their state does not have its own similar government agency, going through the federal government is usually the only option.
Does Georgia Have Its Own Workplace Discrimination Laws?
Georgia does have some laws protecting workers from discrimination, but it does not have a broad law protecting a wide range of classes as the federal government does. The state has passed a few laws concerning workplace discrimination though, including:
The Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act: This forbids discrimination on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sex, age, or national origin. However, it only applies to state agencies with 15 or more employees.
Equal Employment for Persons With Disabilities: This applies to any employer with more than 15 employees and forbids discrimination against disabled employees.
Georgia Age Discrimination Act: This law ensures that workers between the ages of 40 and 70 years old cannot be treated differently based on their age.
If you are discriminated against at work in Georgia, you will probably have to file a federal claim. Our lawyers can help you prepare a convincing case for the EEOC.
Can Atlanta Set Its Own Workplace Standards?
Yes, this is one more important thing to remember. If you work in Atlanta itself, you are protected by additional city laws against discrimination. The city does not allow employers to discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, parental status, familial status, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any combination of these factors. As you can probably see, these rules take federal law and add a few more protected classes.
Consult With an Employment Lawyer
If you believe that you have been discriminated against at work, we want to help you. Contact Ben Barrett Law and ask to schedule a consultation. After we look at the details of your case, we can get right to work on making things right.
