Employers in Massachusetts are banned from discriminating against employees on the basis of gender under the Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Equal Pay Act. Therefore, gender may not be the basis for any employer decisions regarding pay, hiring policies, or promotion criteria. They must also make sure that working environments will not be hostile towards a specific gender and that the work atmosphere is not overly sexual.

What Must be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?

Under the Equal Pay act, discrimination can be proven if men and women both work in the same place, do the same job, but are still paid differently. Also, discrimination can be proven if the employer in Norwell is only hiring or issuing promotions based on one gender. A claim will also prevail if the employer retaliates against workers who seek relief for discrimination.

When is Sexual Harassment Prohibited?

Physical or verbal acts of a sexual nature that are unwelcome to the victim are regarded to be sexual harassment. Employers in Norwell may be held liable for the sexual harassment, even when it was a co-worker who directly engaged in the conduct.

If the employer permits conduct to create an overly sexual work environment, they may be held liable for sexual harassment in Massachusetts. It is typically somewhat challenging to prove gender discrimination if you don't have an attorney, because certain aspects such as proving intent can be complex. Pursuing a claim also involves following procedures, many of which can be detailed.