and Federal laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of specificed protected characteristics, both in Wakefield and elswhere in the state. Under state and Federal law, both private and public employers in Wakefield may be found liable for discrimination, depending on what type of trait originally prompted the discrimination.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

Employment discrimination can occur if the employer treats an employee unfairly based on their membership in a class that is legally protected. Some traits which employers are not allowed to evaluate employees with are: race, age, national origin, religion, familial status, and gender. In order for a claim of employment discrimination to be proven, a Wakefield, 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 is demonstrated upon finding a prior history of similar treatment of members of the same class, or upon testimony regarding the employer's statements that a reasonable person would hold to be biased. Additionally, 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 specific agencies. An attorney in Wakefield, Massachusetts can assist you in filing on time, as well as pursuing other remedies that are available to you while your claim is pending.