and Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of certain protected characteristics, both in Brookline and elswhere in the state. Under state and Federal law, both private and public employers in Brookline can be found liable for discrimination, depending on what type of trait originally prompted the discrimination.
How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?
If an employee is a member of a legally protected class and their employer treats them unfairly because of that, the employer will be held liable for employment discrimination. Employers are prohibited from using particular 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 Brookline, Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts?
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 are in clear violation of the law when they fire someone or retaliate against them because they filed a discrimination lawsuit.
The procedure for pursuing an employment discrimination claim is complicated, since it involves filing a claim with certain agencies. Lawyers in the city of Brookline, Massachusetts may direct you in filing your claim on time, and while your case is pending, they can help you pursue further remedies that might be available for you.