The Federal government as well as the state of Washington have enacted laws which make it illegal to discriminate based on specified protected characteristics. Depending on what type of trait prompted the discriminatory treatment, government employers and even private organizations in Edmonds can be held liable under various state and federal laws.
How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?
Employment discrimination occurs if an employer treats you wrongly because of your membership in a legally protected category. Employers are prohibited from using certain traits to evaluate you such as national origin, religion, race, age, familial status, or gender. In order for a claim of employment discrimination to be proven, an Edmonds, Washington 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 Washington?
This is demonstrated 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 hold to be biased. 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.
The procedure for pursuing an employment discrimination claim is complicated, since it involves filing a claim with specific agencies. An Edmonds, Washington lawyer can help you file in a timely manner, and while your case is pending, they can assist you in pursuing any available remedies.