Both Georgia and the federal government have passed laws that prohibiting discrimination on the basis of certain protected characteristics. Employers in the city of Canton, 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. Employers are prohibited from using certain traits to evaluate you such as national origin, religion, race, age, familial status, or gender. In order for a claim of employment discrimination to be successful, a Canton, Georgia plaintiff must show that his (or her) employer actively intended to treat him differently because of his protected status.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in Georgia?

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 may be held liable for firing someone or retaliating against them because they brought a discrimination lawsuit.

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