Mississippi employers must abide by the Civil Rights Act of 1963 and the Equal Pay Act, both of which prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender. Therefore, employers may not take sex into account when they determine pay, hire new workers, or promote within the company. They are also required to make sure that the working environment is neither hostile to a particular gender nor overtly sexual.

What Must be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?

Discrimination happens according to the Equal Pay Act if both men and women are working in the same job and performing the same tasks, yet receive different wages. Employers in Natchez 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?

Sexual harassment encompasses all unwanted sexual behavior, whether verbal or physical, directed at the victim. Employers in Natchez may be held liable for the sexual harassment, even when it was a co-worker who directly engaged in the conduct.

Mississippi employers who allow conduct to produce an overly sexual work atmosphere may also be held liable for sexual harassment. The specific details for proving intent to discrimination can be complicated, and so gender discrimination might be challenging to prove without an attorney. The procedures for filing can also be complex.