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Do you suspect you’ve been the target of workplace discrimination in Grand Rapids? If so, you have the right to demand compensation and justice for an employer’s misconduct. Contact Fagan McManus, P.C. for an initial case evaluation with an employment discrimination attorney serving Grand Rapids. We want to discuss your options for seeking accountability for the financial, professional, and emotional losses you’ve suffered.
State and federal law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or prospective employees. An employer discriminates against a worker when they take adverse employment action against a worker based on that worker’s protected characteristic. Examples of adverse employment actions that may constitute employer discrimination include:
Various state and federal statutes define protected characteristics for workers that cannot serve as the motivation for an employer’s adverse employment action. For example, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of:
The federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits age discrimination against workers 40 and older. The Americans with Disabilities Act also prohibits discrimination based on a worker’s disability or perceived disability. Finally, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on a worker’s genetic information.
Under Michigan law, the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religious belief, sex, age, height, weight, marital status, or familial status. Michigan’s Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act also prohibits discrimination against workers based on disability.
If you were discriminated against in an employment relationship in Grand Rapids, you may have the right to seek compensation for the financial, emotional, and professional harm you’ve suffered. This compensation could cover:
You could also be entitled to punitive damages. These are awarded only in rare cases where a jury finds that an employer intentionally or maliciously discriminated against a worker in a manner that shocks the conscience.
Employees who win discrimination lawsuits might also recover reimbursement for their legal expenses in pursuing their claim.
In most cases, workers who experience discrimination by an employer have 180 days after a discriminatory act to file a charge of discrimination with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. However, the EEOC extends the filing deadline to 300 days if a state or local agency enforces a state law prohibiting employment discrimination on the same basis as federal law.
After receiving a charge of discrimination, the MDCR or EEOC will investigate the worker’s complaint and may issue a right-to-sue letter, which authorizes the worker to file an employment discrimination lawsuit against the employer. The worker typically has 90 days after receiving a right-to-sue letter to file their lawsuit.
You have limited time to pursue an employment discrimination claim after experiencing a discriminatory act by an employer. Assert your rights by consulting an employment discrimination lawyer at Fagan McManus, P.C. to start preparing your case.
Sometimes, an employment discrimination case will involve direct evidence of an employer’s discriminatory motive, such as emails indicating that an employer took adverse employment action against a worker based on their protected characteristics. However, employment discrimination claims usually rely on circumstantial evidence to support an inference of an employer’s discriminatory motive and to undermine any attempt by the employer to excuse their actions as legitimate and non-discriminatory. Examples of evidence you might use to establish an employment discrimination claim include:
If you believe an employer has discriminated against you, take the following steps to protect your options to pursue a claim against the employer:
Finally, contact an employment discrimination attorney as soon as possible for help filing a charge of discrimination with the MDCR or EEOC. The sooner you do, the better positioned your attorney will be to pursue your claim.
It may feel overwhelming to pursue a claim against your employer, especially if you work for a large, powerful corporation. An attorney from Fagan McManus, P.C. can help you pursue a discrimination case against an employer in Grand Rapids by:
For years, Grand Rapids–area workers have trusted the legal team at Fagan McManus, P.C. to advocate for their rights and interests. Turn to a workplace harassment lawyer from our firm to help you hold an employer accountable for discriminatory conduct because:
Have you experienced workplace discrimination in Grand Rapids? If so, you need a dedicated, experienced employment retaliation attorney to protect your rights and advocate for your interests. Contact Fagan McManus, P.C. today for a confidential consultation and to learn more about how our firm can help you seek accountability and justice.
