The Federal government as well as the state of West Virginia have enacted laws which make it illegal to discriminate based on defined protected characteristics. Government and private employers in New Martinsville can be held liable under state and federal law depending on what kind of trait the discriminatory treatment was based upon.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

Employment discrimination occurs when an employer treats you unfairly because you belong to a legally protected category. Employers can not base their evaluations of you on particular traits including religion, race, age, gender, national origin, and familial status. The plaintiff must prove that their employer intended to treat them unfairly because of their protected status in order to succeed on a discrimination claim in New Martinsville, West Virginia.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in West 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, employers are in clear violation of the law when they fire someone or retaliate against them because they filed a discrimination lawsuit.

Employment discrimination claims have complicated filing procedures, because they involve pursuing the claim with particular agencies. New Martinsville, West Virginia has many lawyers available to help you in filing in a timely fashion, and they can also help you pursue any remedies that might be available to you while your case is being processed.