Race Discrimination
Columbus Ohio Race Discrimination Attorneys
If You’ve Experienced Race Discrimination, our Ohio Race Discrimination Lawyers Are Here For You
Race discrimination and harassment in the workplace is illegal. If your employer has treated you unfavorably and you believe this treatment occurred because of your race, you should take immediate action to protect your rights. If you are experiencing discrimination at work because of your race, the law protects your rights, and you have the right to file a claim. Our Columbus Ohio race discrimination attorneys are strong, tireless advocates for workers throughout Central Ohio. No matter the circumstances of your case, we will provide you with aggressive and fully personalized legal representation. If you or your loved one was subject to unlawful race discrimination in the workplace, you are encouraged to contact our Columbus law office for a free, strictly confidential initial consultation.
Discrimination
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Racial Discrimination and the Workplace: Understanding the Basics
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects individuals against employment discrimination based on race and color. Additionally, workers are also protected from race-based discrimination under Ohio law (Ohio Revised Code §4112.02). Simply put, all employees should be judged on their individual qualifications for a position, not on their racial background. Unfortunately, even though there are strong state and federal laws in place that protect employees against race discrimination, it still occurs in far too many workplaces in Ohio. Race discrimination can occur in different aspects of employment, including:
- Hiring, firing, and layoffs;
- Pay and promotions;
- Assignments and training; and
- Unfair or disproportionate disciplinary action.
If any type of adverse employment action was taken against you—from being denied a job or denied a promotion to being offered a lower salary or subjected to unfair disciplinary action—and you believe that your racial background was a factor in the treatment you received, you need to seek professional legal support right away. Your labor law rights may have been violated, and our experienced Columbus Ohio race discrimination lawyers can help.
Harassment vs. Teasing: What is a Hostile Work Environment?
Sadly, some employees are forced to endure a hostile work environment based on their race, color, and/or national origin. A hostile work environment is one in which a person is subject to severe or pervasive harassment or hostility based on a protected characteristic, such as race. Hostile work environment claims are complex. If you are unsure whether the harassment you have experienced at work is enough to make a case, call our Ohio race discrimination attorneys. Being the recipient of a racial slur or other derogatory comment is wrong; however, federal law does not prohibit teasing. When racial comments occur frequently and create a hostile work environment, they may be considered illegal. Whether the harasser is your boss, coworker, or customer, you are protected by law. In many cases, it is difficult for an employee to know whether enough has occurred for their workplace to meet the threshold of a hostile environment. If you have been made to feel unwelcome or uncomfortable in your workplace, and your race, color, or national origin was a factor, you should speak to experienced Columbus race discrimination lawyers about your case. Your lawyers can review the circumstances and help you understand your rights and options.
Color Discrimination and National Origin Discrimination
Two other types of employment discrimination—color discrimination and national origin discrimination—are closely linked, but they are distinct from race-based discrimination. An employee who brings a race discrimination claim may also be eligible to bring a concurrent color discrimination claim or even a national origin discrimination claim, but it is not always the case. Color Discrimination: Color discrimination may occur between people who are different races or even the same race. In this reference, “color” relates to pigmentation, complexion, or the shade and tone of the skin. If you have been discriminated against due to the lightness or darkness of your skin, your rights are protected under Title VII. National Origin Discrimination: National origin discrimination occurs when employees or applicants are treated unfairly because they are from a specific country, speak with an accent, or appear to be a certain ethnicity. Employers are not permitted to base an employment decision on any of these reasons unless they would interfere with job performance.
Employers Often Conceal Race Discrimination
While there are still plenty of exceptions, many employers take proactive steps to try to conceal race discrimination. Most supervisors and managers are well aware of the fact that race, color, and national origin discrimination are unlawful. Sadly, prohibitive laws do not always prevent others from discriminating. Instead, they may simply try to come up with false or pretextual reasons to hide the fact that race discrimination occurred. Do not let employers get away with using pretextual (false) reasons to violate your rights. Get help from our experienced Columbus Ohio race discrimination attorneys.
Contact Our Columbus Race Discrimination Lawyers Today
At Coffman Legal, our Ohio employment law attorneys have extensive experience handling the full range of race discriminations claims. If you believe you have been subjected to harassment or discrimination based on your race, color, or national origin, you should contact our Columbus Ohio race discrimination attorneys. For questions about race, color and national origin discrimination or harassment, contact us for a free consultation with our experienced Columbus Ohio race discrimination lawyers. You only have a limited amount of time to bring a race discrimination claim in Ohio. Act now to protect your rights.
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