Certain characteristics are protected against discrimination under both and federal laws in Covington and other communities of Virginia. In Covington, government and private organizations may be held liable for discrimination, depending on what type of trait the unfair treatment was originally based on.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

Employment discrimination occurs if an employer treats you wrongly because of your membership in a legally protected category. Employers may not base their evaluations of you on certain traits including religion, race, age, gender, national origin, and familial status. Plaintiffs in Covington, Virginia are required to prove that their employer treated them unfairly due to their protected status in order to succeed on an employment discrimination claim.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in Virginia?

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. Additionally, 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 certain agencies. An Covington, Virginia attorney can help you file on time, as well as pursue any additional remedies that may be available to you while your case is pending.