Which Laws Protect Employees in Florida from Discrimination?
Whether you are applying for a job or currently working for an employer in South Florida, you may be protected against employment discrimination by various state and federal laws. If you face a form of discrimination on the basis of your inclusion in a protected class (for example, race, religion, sex, disability, age), you may be able to file a state or federal claim under one of these laws. However, these laws do not apply to all employers in Florida. Generally speaking, in order for a law prohibiting discrimination to apply to an employer, the employer typically must have at least 15 employees (and sometimes more).
Our Palm Beach Gardens employment discrimination attorneys can tell you more about the laws that are in place to protect you against discrimination, and we can help you to consider other options for addressing discrimination if your employer is not covered.
Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA)
The Florida Civil Rights Act exists under Chapter 760 of the Florida Statutes. This is the state law in Florida that protects job applicants and employees from various forms of employment discrimination. It applies to employers with 15 or more employees, and it provides protections against discrimination on the basis of “race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status.” The age discrimination portion applies to you if you are 40 or older. Sex discrimination includes protections against sexual harassment.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VII, and all of the laws that follow below, are federal laws that protect job applicants and employees from a variety of forms of employment discrimination. They are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Title VII applies to employers with 15 or more employees and protects against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination), national origin, disability, or age.
Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Title I of the ADA applies to employers with 15 or more employees and protects job applicants and employees against discrimination on the basis of a disability.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
The ADEA applies to employers with 20 or more employees and protects job applicants and employees aged 40 and older from discrimination on the basis of age.
Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA)
The Equal Pay Act protects against wage discrimination on the basis of sex. It is an amendment to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA)
Title II of the GINA prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of a job applicant’s or employee’s genetic information.
Contact a Palm Beach Gardens Employment Discrimination Lawyer for Assistance
If you experienced treatment in the job application process or from your current employer that may have violated state or federal laws against discrimination, it is important to seek legal advice. An experienced Palm Beach Gardens employment discrimination attorney at Sconzo Law Office can talk with you today to learn more about your circumstances and to help you move forward with an employment discrimination claim. Contact us for more information.
Sources:
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0760/Sections/0760.01.html
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0700-0799/0760/Sections/0760.01.html