What Types of Employment Discrimination Are Illegal in Florida?

The word “discrimination,” according to Merriam-Webster, is defined as “the act, practice, or an instance of unfairly treating a person or group differently from other people or groups on a class or categorical basis . . . prejudiced or prejudicial outlook or practice.” Based on this definition, a person can face discrimination, or can engage in discrimination, on a very wide range of bases — arising out of anything from a prejudice against individuals of a particular race or religion to a prejudice against individuals from a particular political party or in a particular profession. While all of these might constitute discrimination under the dictionary definition, the definition of unlawful employment discrimination is narrower.

In order to be eligible to file an employment discrimination case — that is, in order for state or federal law to recognize the type of discrimination you have experienced as unlawful — you will need to show that the discrimination occurred as a result of your membership (or often, perceived membership) in a protected class. Our South Florida employment discrimination lawyers can explain in more detail below.

What Constitutes Employment Discrimination?

Employment discrimination can take various forms, All of the following, when they occur because of a person’s specific identity or membership in a protected class, are unlawful, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission:

• Unfair treatment, which can take various forms such as denial of a raise or benefits, less favorable work hours or stations, termination, and more;
• Harassment, which can involve quid pro quo harassment or behavior that creates a hostile work environment;
• Denial of a reasonable accommodation;
• Asking improper questions (such as those designed to obtain information about your membership in a protected class or protected identity characteristics); and
• Retaliation (which includes an adverse treatment as a result of you exercising your rights or participating in an investigation arising out of another job applicant or employee exercising their rights).

What is a Protected Class?

Now, what is a protected class? A protected class is a group of persons, or a class of persons, with legal protections based on their shared identity or immutable characteristics. Protected classes for purposes of employment discrimination protections include, for example:

• Race;
• Color;
• National origin;
• Religion;
• Sex and gender;
• Pregnancy status;
• Age (if 40 or older);
• Disability; and
• Genetic information.

Contact a Palm Beach Gardens Employment Discrimination Lawyer for Help Filing an Employment Discrimination Case in South Florida

If you have been treated differently from your co-workers, and the treatment has been adverse, it is important to determine if you have experienced unlawful discrimination. As we discussed above, there are many different forms of employment discrimination, and discriminatory actions and behaviors can be unlawful when they target a member of a protected class. To discuss the details of your experience and to find out if the adverse actions or behavior you have experienced personally or that have occurred in your workplace constitute unlawful discrimination, you should reach out to an experienced Palm Beach Gardens employment discrimination attorney at Sconzo Law Office. Contact our firm today to learn more about how we help job applicants and employees with employment discrimination claims in South Florida.

Sources:

eeoc.gov/youth/what-laws-does-eeoc-enforce

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0700-0799/0760/0760PARTIContentsIndex.html