Discrimination based on gender is prohibited for employers in Washington according to the Civil Rights Act of 1963, as well as the Equal Pay Act. Accordingly, employers may not take sex into account when they determine pay, hire new workers, or promote within the company. They are also required to make sure that the working environment is neither hostile to a specific gender nor overtly sexual.
What Must be Proven in a Discrimination Claim?
Under the Equal Pay Act, discrimination is proven when both men and women do the same type of work in the same job and yet are given different wages. Also, a claim may prevail if an employer in Edmonds hires only one gender, promotes workers because of their gender, or retaliates against those seeking relief for this misconduct.
When is Sexual Harassment Prohibited?
Physical or verbal acts of a sexual nature that are unwelcome to the victim are considered to be sexual harassment. An Edmonds employer may be held liable for the unwelcome conduct, even if it was an employee's co-worker who engaged in the sexual harassment.
Washington employers can also be held liable for sexual harassment if it allows conduct that leads to an overly sexual work environment. Without a lawyer, it can be difficult to prove gender discrimination because the details in proving intent are often complicated. Also, there can be specific procedures that must be closely followed in pursuing a claim.