Both Hawaii and the federal government have passed laws that prohibiting discrimination on the basis of specific protected characteristics. Employers in the city of Lahaina, 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?

An employer will be deemed guilty of employment discrimination if they treat an employee unfairly because they belong to a category that is legally protected. Employers are prohibited from using specific traits to evaluate you such as national origin, religion, race, age, familial status, or gender. In Lahaina, Hawaii, in order to succeed on an employment discrimination claim, the plaintiff must show that the employer's intent in treating them differently was based on the protected status.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in Hawaii?

This may be shown if the employer has treated others of the same status similarly, or when people testify to particular statements made by the employer that would indicate bias when heard by a reasonable person. Furthermore, an employer violates the law if they terminate a person's employment or otherwise retaliate in response to a discrimination lawsuit filed against them.

Procedures for filing an employment discrimination claim are complicated, because they involve filing the claim with the corresponding agency. An Lahaina, Hawaii attorney can help you file on time, as well as pursue any further remedies that may be available to you while your case is pending.