TOLEDO EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION ATTORNEY

According to the National Law Review, Ohio’s Governor Mike DeWine signed the Employment Law Uniformity Act, which went into effect on April 12, 2021 and applies to any cases after that date. The new law reduces the statute of limitation on workplace discrimination cases from six years to two years. It also requires that an employee first report the discrimination to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) and obtain a “right to sue” from the commission prior to filing a lawsuit. If you have experienced employment discrimination, either before or after the new law goes into effect, it is important to seek legal counsel from a Toledo employment discrimination attorney at Coffman Legal, LLC. We will guide you through your rights and the legal process while advocating for your best interests.

What Constitutes Employment Discrimination

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission both investigate charges of discrimination. Discrimination can occur for any of the following protected traits:

• Race or Color;
• National Origin;
• Religious beliefs;
• Sex;
• LGBTQ;
• Age (if over 40);
• Disability;
• Military Status; and
• More.

• Through the job advertisement—help wanted advertisements should not discourage a person from applying for a position because of any of the above protected traits. For instance, it may be illegal to say a position is open for recent college graduates because it defines a specific age group;
• The hiring process—During interviews there are questions that should not be asked by a potential employer such as, “Do you plan to marry?” or “What church do you attend?” because they do not pertain to the employer’s ability to determine if you have the qualifications necessary to perform the job;
• By the terms and conditions of work—This could be refusing to offer the position to someone or offering them fewer benefits than other employees or a lower wage;
• Harassment—This includes verbal or physical harassment such as joking, unwanted sexual advances, and more;
• Discipline—Unlawful discriminatory discipline may include verbal abuse, taking an employee off a coveted project, humiliating them in front of coworkers, etc.;
• Layoff—Using an excuse of having to layoff an employee for budgetary reasons, for example, when the true reason they are being “let go” is because of employer discrimination, is unlawful;
• Promotion/demotion—refusing to promote an employee or keeping them off important projects can be forms of discrimination; and
• Termination—Some termination cases including at-will employees can be complex, but even employees who work at-will, along with other contracted employees, are protected against being fired for their race, religion, sex, etc.

Contact a Toledo Employment Discrimination Attorney

If at any point in your interactions with an employer you believe you have been discriminated against, you can hold the employer accountable through an employment discrimination claim. The skilled Toledo employment discrimination attorneys at Coffman Legal, LLC will help you determine if you have a case. We assist clients with what steps to take and help collect the evidence needed to seek compensation for the damages. Damages can include lost wages, punitive damages, lost benefits, and more. Call our offices today at 614-949-1181 to schedule a free consultation.