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

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

Employment discrimination occurs when an employer treats you unfairly because you belong to a legally protected category. Some traits which employers are not allowed to evaluate employees with include: race, age, national origin, religion, familial status, and gender. Plaintiffs in Ripley, Tennessee are required to show that their employer treated them unfairly due to their protected status in order to prevail on an employment discrimination claim.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in Tennessee?

This can be proved when there is a history of the employer treating members of the class similarly, or if witnesses testify about the employer's statements which would constitute bias as understood by a reasonable person. Furthermore, an employer who fires someone or otherwise retaliates because of a discrimination lawsuit is in clear violation of the law.

Procedures for filing an employment discrimination claim are complicated, because they involve filing the claim with the corresponding agency. A Ripley, Tennessee lawyer can help you file in a timely manner, and while your case is pending, they can help you in pursuing any available remedies.