What Type of Conduct is Prohibited in Alaska?
The Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Equal Pay Act prohibit employers in Alaska from discriminating on the basis of gender. In accordance, employers may not take gender into account when making decisions regarding wages, hiring, or promotions. They also must ensure that working environments are not hostile or biased towards a particular gender, and that it is not of an overtly sexual atmosphere.
What Must be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?
Under the Equal Pay act, discrimination can be proven if men and women both work in the same place, do the same job, but are nevertheless paid differently. A discrimination claim may also succeed when employers in Barrow hire only one specific gender, issues promotions based on gender, or retaliates against persons who seek relief for employer misconduct.
When is Sexual Harassment Prohibited?
Physical or verbal acts of a sexual nature that are unwelcome to the victim are considered to be sexual harassment. A Barrow employer could be held liable for the unwelcome conduct, even if it was an employee's co-worker who engaged in the sexual harassment.
A Alaska employer could also be liable for harassment if they allow conduct to lead to an environment that is overly sexual. Without a lawyer, it can be difficult to prove gender discrimination because the details in proving intent are often complicated. Also, there can be specific procedures that must be closely followed in pursuing a claim.
