Employers in Michigan are banned from discriminating against employees on the basis of gender under the Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Equal Pay Act. Consequently employers cannot use sex or gender as a basis for determinations regarding wages, hiring policies, or promotion policies. They also must ensure that working environments are not hostile or biased towards a certain gender, and that it is not of an overtly sexual atmosphere.

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. Employers in Coldwater can also be held liable in a discrimination claim if their hiring and promotion policies favor one gender, or if the they take retaliatory action against a worker who files a complaint against their employer.

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. A Coldwater employer might be held liable for the unwelcome conduct, even if it was an employee's co-worker who engaged in the sexual harassment.

Michigan employers might also be liable for permitting conduct to lead to a work environment that is overly sexual. 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.