Both Florida and the federal government have passed laws that prohibiting discrimination on the basis of certain protected characteristics. Employers in the city of Punta Gorda, whether public or private, can be held liable under federal and state laws depending on the type of trait first prompted the discrimination.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

Employment discrimination occurs when an employer treats you wrongly because of your membership in a legally protected class. Traits that employers can not use to evaluate you include race, national origin, gender, religion and familial status. To show employment discrimination in Punta Gorda, Florida, the plaintiff needs to be able to show that the employer's intent to treat them unfairly was motivated by their protected status.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in Florida?

This can be proved when there is a history of the employer treating members of the class similarly, or if witnesses testify about the employer's statements which would constitute bias as understood by a reasonable person. Furthermore, employers who fire someone or retaliate against them for bringing a discrimination lawsuit are clearly in violation of the law.

Because it involves filing a claim with specificed agencies, the procedure for pursuing employment discrimination claims can be complicated. An attorney in Punta Gorda, Florida can help you in filing on time, as well as pursuing other remedies that are available to you while your claim is pending.