The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission enforces anti-discrimination laws in the workplace. These federal laws include laws protecting against discrimination based on:
Employers violate these laws when they treat you differently from other employees based on:
Employers also violate these laws when they mistreat all of their employees based on immutable personal characteristics all of the employees share. For example, if a male employer refuses to promote any of his female employees based solely on their gender, he has violated the law.
Discriminatory behavior by employers can include:
Firing in retaliation for whistle-blowing or for using Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits also often qualifies as employment discrimination. Workers who feel they have been subject to discriminatory treatment like that outlined above should consult with an employment law attorney to discuss filing discrimination claims against their employers and other possible forms of legal redress.