Employment Discrimination

You Have the Right to a Workplace Free from Discrimination

Your job should be a place where you’re valued for your skills—not judged for your age, race, disability, gender, or other protected characteristics. Unfortunately, discrimination still happens every day in workplaces across Pennsylvania and the country.

Whether it’s being denied a job, harassed on the job, or fired for standing up for your rights, unlawful treatment in the workplace can upend your life. Our firm is here to help employees fight back against workplace discrimination and pursue the justice they deserve.

What Is Employment Discrimination?

Employment discrimination occurs when an employer takes adverse action against an employee (or applicant) based on a legally protected characteristic. These actions can include firing, demotion, unequal pay, failure to hire or promote, harassment, or denial of benefits and accommodations.

Under federal law—including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (Title VII), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), and other statutes—workers are protected against discrimination based on:

Age (40 and over)
Disability
Race
Religion
National origin
Pregnancy
Sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity)

In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) provides additional protections and applies to more employers than some federal laws.

Types of Employment Discrimination We Handle

Age Discrimination: Targeting older employees for layoffs, denying promotions, or favoring younger workers is unlawful under the ADEA and PHRA.
Disability Discrimination: Under the ADA and the PHRA, employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations and cannot treat workers unfairly due to a disability or perceived disability.
Sex Discrimination: Discrimination based on sex—including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation—is illegal under Title VII and Pennsylvania law.
Sexual Harassment: Unwanted sexual advances, a hostile work environment, or retaliation for reporting harassment may violate both federal and state laws.
Pregnancy Discrimination: Employers cannot treat pregnant employees differently, force them onto leave, or deny accommodations related to pregnancy.
Race Discrimination: Racial bias in hiring, pay, promotions, assignments, or discipline is a clear violation of anti-discrimination laws.
Religious Discrimination: Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for religious practices and cannot treat employees less favorably because of their beliefs.
National Origin Discrimination: Workers cannot be mistreated because of their accent, ethnicity, ancestry, or country of origin.
FMLA Discrimination: Eligible employees have the right to take protected medical or family leave. Retaliating against employees for doing so, or interfering with an employee’s attempt to do so, is illegal under the FMLA.
Retaliation: It is unlawful for an employer to punish an employee for complaining about discrimination, requesting accommodations, or participating in a discrimination investigation.

Know Your Rights—And Act Quickly

There are strict time limits for filing employment discrimination claims. Depending on the applicable law, you may have as little as 180 or 300 days to file a charge of discrimination with the EEOC or PHRC. That’s why it’s important to speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.

We can evaluate your case, gather evidence, and help you take legal action to protect your rights and seek compensation.