What Type of Conduct is Prohibited in Maine?
Employers in Maine are prohibited from discriminating against employees on the basis of gender under the Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Equal Pay Act. Consequently employers cannot use sex or gender as a basis for determinations regarding wages, hiring procedures, or promotion policies. They must also ensure that the workplace environment is not hostile to a particular 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 given different wages. Discrimination claims in South Portland can be proven 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 includes any unwanted sexual behavior, whether verbal or physical, directed at the victim. A South Portland employer could be held liable for the unwelcome conduct, even if it was an employee's co-worker who engaged in the sexual harassment.
Maine employers may also be liable for allowing conduct to lead to a work environment that is overly sexual. Gender discrimination is usually 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.
