Under the U.S. Constitution and Title VII of the U.S. Code, racial discrimination is prohibited in Indiana. According to these laws, employers may not take race into account when hiring, recruiting, deciding pay or offering promotions.

What Must Be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?

The federal agency known as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has the power to conduct investigations of workplace discrimination, and employees must file their discrimination claims wih the EEOC prior to suing in a civil court. Race discrimination includes situations where an employer treats their employee differently from other employees who are of a different race or nationality.

The Rensselaer plaintiff must further be able to show that the employer acted with intent to discriminate based on race in order to succeed in a racial discrimination claim. Proof of an employer's intent to discriminate can be proven if they have preferentially treated workers of different races than the plaintiff.

How Can a Rensselaer Lawyer Help with My Claim?

In some cases also, recorded statements made by the employer about racial issues can be used to prove intent. Laws of procedure vary considerably in this area of law depending on where you file your claim, and local Rensselaer lawyers will be familiarized with the requirements of your geographical region. Should you decide to file your claim at the EEOC, an Indiana lawyer will be able to help you out, and they can also point you towards other forms of remedies available to you while your claim is pending.