Certain characteristics are protected against discrimination under both and federal laws in Lakeland and other communities of Tennessee. Under state and Federal law, both private and public employers in Lakeland may be found liable for discrimination, depending on what type of trait originally prompted the discrimination.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

Employment discrimination is when an employer treats you unfairly because you belong to a legally protected class. Some traits which employers are not allowed to evaluate employees with are: race, age, national origin, religion, familial status, and gender. The plaintiff must prove that their employer intended to treat them unfairly because of their protected status in order to prevail on a discrimination claim in Lakeland, Tennessee.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in Tennessee?

This may be demonstrated if the employer has treated others of the same status similarly, or when people testify to specific statements made by the employer that would indicate bias when heard by a reasonable person. Furthermore, employers may be held liable for firing someone or retaliating against them because they brought a discrimination lawsuit.

Procedures for pursuing an employment discrimination claim are complicated, because they involve filing the claim with the corresponding agency. An attorney in Lakeland, Tennessee can assist you in filing on time, as well as pursuing other remedies that are available to you while your claim is pending.