Certain characteristics are protected against discrimination under both and federal laws in Lexington and other communities of Virginia. In Lexington, 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?

An employer will be deemed guilty of employment discrimination if they treat an employee unfairly because they belong to a category that is legally protected. Traits that employers can not use to evaluate you include race, national origin, gender, religion and familial status. Plaintiffs in Lexington, Virginia 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 Virginia?

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. Moreover, an employer violates the law if they terminate a person's employment or otherwise retaliate in response to a discrimination lawsuit filed against them.

The procedure for pursuing an employment discrimination claim is complicated, since it involves filing a claim with specific agencies. A Lexington, Virginia lawyer can help you file in a timely manner, and while your case is pending, they can help you in pursuing any available remedies.