Discrimination and harassment
Treated worse for who you are
Discrimination is rarely said out loud. It shows in who gets the shifts, the raise and the layoff notice.
The law protects you from being treated worse at work because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, religion or national origin, and from harassment bad enough to change your job.
You don't need a confession. Patterns, comparisons with coworkers and the timing of decisions are how these cases are proved, and I'll help you collect them.
What it looks like
Cases I see most
Pregnancy
Hours cut or a job lost after you told your manager you were expecting.
Disability
A reasonable accommodation refused, or never discussed.
Age
Older workers picked first for the layoff list.
Race and national origin
Passed over for promotions that went to less experienced coworkers.
Sexual harassment
Comments, touching or demands from a boss, a coworker or a customer.
Religion
Scheduling or dress-code requests refused without a real reason.
Right now
If it's happening now
Keep a log
Each incident: date, time, who was there and what was said.
Report it in writing
An email to HR or a manager creates a record the company can't deny.
Save the evidence
Screenshots of texts and messages, kept off your work phone.
Watch the clock
Agency filing deadlines can run out within months.
Questions
What people ask about discrimination and harassment
Do I have to report it to HR first?
Often it helps, because the company can't say it didn't know. But it isn't always required. If reporting feels unsafe, call first and we'll decide together.
What if I'm still working there?
Many clients are. Retaliating against you for complaining, or for getting legal advice, can be its own claim.
Is there a deadline?
Yes, and it can be short. Some charges must go to a government agency first, within months of what happened. Don't wait to call.
Tell me what happened
A short call, and you'll know whether this is a case.
Contingency cases: no fee unless you recover. Case costs, like filing and transcript fees, are separate, and the agreement says in writing who pays them.