You may need to hire an employment discrimination lawyer if you’ve recently been let go and are questioning whether the decision was warranted or if you’re experiencing serious, recurring problems with coworkers. But before you make any calls, here are three things to consider.
1. Is Your Work Environment Hostile?
If you’ve ever been mistreated or threatened by your employer or colleague, you could be in a hostile work environment. An employer should never withhold benefits, promotions, raises or other legal entitlements for reasons that are not valid or performance-based. If you’ve ever been pressured to sacrifice your legal employment rights in order to perform beyond your contractual duties, it may be worthwhile to hire a lawyer to professionally assess your work environment.
2. Have You Been Wrongfully Let Go?
Different cities and states have varying regulations around the kind of behavior that would warrant hiring an employment discrimination lawyer Orlando, FL may have laws protecting pregnant women from being terminated, whereas Albuquerque, NM may not. It’s important to do your research before contacting a lawyer, to make sure you are within your rights to claim wrongful termination. However, if you have a suspicion that your termination was based on age, gender, or other personal factors, you can always book a consultation with a lawyer to determine whether you can make a good case against your former employer.
3. Is an Employer or Colleague Acting Inappropriately?
Sexual, verbal or other forms of harassment should never be tolerated in the workplace or out. If you’ve been put into uncomfortable situations or have ever been propositioned by your employer or a fellow employee, contact an employment discrimination lawyer. You should never be asked to perform tasks or favors beyond the scope of your role or the legal boundaries constituting a working relationship.
If you’re questioning whether you’ve been the recipient of workplace discrimination, never hesitate to reach out and consult a lawyer. At the very least, you’ll discover you haven’t been discriminated against; at best, you could end up in a much healthier work environment.