Specific characteristics are protected against discrimination under both and federal laws in Shelby County and other communities of Tennessee. Under state and Federal law, both private and public employers in Shelby County 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 Shelby County, 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 is shown upon finding a prior history of similar treatment of members of the same class, or upon testimony regarding the employer's statements that a reasonable person would understand to be biased. Furthermore, employers are in clear violation of the law when they fire someone or retaliate against them because they filed a discrimination lawsuit.

Employment discrimination claims have complicated filing procedures, because they involve pursuing the claim with particular agencies. An Shelby County, Tennessee attorney can help you file on time, as well as pursue any further remedies that may be available to you while your case is pending.