Particular characteristics are protected against discrimination under both and federal laws in Buena Vista and other communities of Virginia. In Buena Vista, government and private organizations can be held liable for discrimination, depending on what type of trait the unfair treatment was initially based on.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

Employment discrimination occurs when an employer treats you wrongly because of your membership in a legally protected class. Employers can not base their evaluations of you on particular traits including religion, race, age, gender, national origin, and familial status. In order for a claim of employment discrimination to be successful, a Buena Vista, Virginia plaintiff must show that his (or her) employer actively intended to treat him differently because of his protected status.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in Virginia?

This will be proven if the employer in question has treated others of the same class in a comparable manner. It may also be shown when there is testimony regarding specific employer statements that a reasonable person would define as biased. Furthermore, an employer violates the law if they terminate a person's employment or otherwise retaliate in response to a discrimination lawsuit filed against them.

Pursuing an employment discrimination claim can often be complicated, because they involve filing your claim with particular agencies. An Buena Vista, Virginia 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.