The Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Equal Pay Act prohibit employers in Florida against discriminating on the basis of gender. Therefore, gender may not be the basis for any employer decisions regarding pay, hiring policies, or promotion requirements. They must also make sure that working environments will not be hostile towards a certain gender and that the work atmosphere is not overly sexual.

What Must be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?

The Equal Pay Act allows discrimination to be shown if it can be shown that both men and women work for the same employer doing the same tasks, and yet are paid differently. Also, a claim may succeed if an employer in Lake County hires only one gender, promotes workers because of their gender, or retaliates against those seeking relief for this misconduct.

When is Sexual Harassment Prohibited?

All unwelcome sexual behavior directed at the victim, including physical or verbal acts, is considered to be sexual harassment. A Lake County employer might be held liable for the unwelcome conduct, even if it was an employee's co-worker who engaged in the sexual harassment.

A Florida employer might 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.