Employers in Louisiana are banned from discriminating against employees on the basis of gender under the Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Equal Pay Act. Therefore, gender may not be the basis for any employer decisions regarding pay, hiring policies, or promotion criteria. They must also ensure that the workplace environment is not hostile to a certain gender and that it is not overly sexual.

What Must be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?

Under the Equal Pay Act, discrimination is proven when both men and women do the same type of work in the same job and yet are paid different wages. Discrimination claims in East Baton Rouge Parish can be shown where the employer only hires one gender, promotes employees on the basis of gender, or acts in retaliation against a worker who has complained of employer misconduct.

When is Sexual Harassment Prohibited?

Sexual harassment consists of all unwanted conduct of a sexual nature directed towards the victim, and includes both physical and verbal acts. An employer in East Baton Rouge Parish might also possibly be held liable for inappropriate behavior that was conducted by an employee's co-worker.

Louisiana employers might also be liable for permitting conduct to lead to a work environment that is overly sexual. Gender discrimination is typically difficult to prove without a lawyer because the specifics of proving intent can be complicated. There are also detailed procedures that must be followed when pursuing a claim.