North Carolina 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. Accordingly, employers may not take sex into account when they determine pay, hire new workers, or promote within the company. They are also required to ensure that working conditions are not hostile toward any one gender and that the atmosphere is not overtly sexual.

What Must be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?

Discrimination occurs 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. A discrimination claim may also succeed when employers in Fairview hire only one specific gender, issues promotions based on gender, or retaliates against persons who seek relief for employer misconduct.

When is Sexual Harassment Prohibited?

Sexual harassment encompasses any unwelcome or unwanted conduct of a sexual nature that is directed at the victim, whether it is physical or verbal. A Fairview employer may be held liable for the unwelcome conduct, even if it was an employee's co-worker who engaged in the sexual harassment.

North Carolina employers can also be held liable for sexual harassment if it allows conduct that leads to an overly sexual work environment. Without a lawyer, it can be difficult to prove gender discrimination because the details in proving intent are often complicated. Furthermore, there can be specific procedures that must be closely followed in pursuing a claim.