Relationships between employers and employees are often positive and without incident. Unfortunately, however, with over 160 million people in the U.S. workforce, disputes between employers and employees are bound to happen. Sometimes, these disputes can be resolved informally. Other times, legal intervention is necessary. If you are involved in an employment dispute that requires legal action, please contact the Law Offices of William Kolb, LLC, for assistance.
Protections Against Workplace Discrimination
There are many laws in place that protect employees from discrimination and other forms of unfair treatment by employers. Below are some key employment laws.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides broad protections against several types of workplace discrimination. Specifically, this law prevents discrimination based on the following attributes:
- Race
- Color
- National origin
- Religion
Discrimination based on any of the above factors can be demonstrated by proving either of the following:
Disparate treatment: This applies when an employer treats an employee unfavorably based upon personal characteristics that are unrelated to the job.
Discriminatory harassment: This applies when an employee suffers harassment by an employer based on any of the above attributes.
Equal Pay Act of 1963
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 is designed to protect women from unfair employment practices. This law prohibits sex-based discrimination when jobs require equal skill, effort, and responsibility. Specifically, this act applies to:
- Layoffs
- Promotions
- Pay
- Hiring consideration
- Benefits
Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967
Employees are also protected from age discrimination under the Age Discrimination Employment Act of 1967. This law, which specifically applies to people over 40 years old, prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or applicants based on their age.
Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law that prohibits discrimination against people who have disabilities in every aspect of their lives, including employment. Under the law, an employer may not discriminate against employees or applicants due to a disability.
Other Types of Employment Disputes
In addition to claims of discrimination, there are several other types of disputes that can arise in the workplace. Below are some examples of additional types of employment disputes.
Wage Theft
The Fair Labor and Standards Act requires employers to abide by minimum wage, child labor, recordkeeping, and overtime laws. Unfortunately, however, employers sometimes cheat their employees out of wages in a variety of ways.
Retaliation
There are also several laws that prohibit employers from retaliating against employees for reporting instances of employer wrongdoing, including wage theft, discrimination, and other illegal business practices. Examples of actions for which an employee cannot suffer retaliation by an employer include:
- Filing a complaint against an employer
- Protecting oneself or a coworker from the sexual advances of an employer
- Cooperating with the authorities during investigations
- Refusing to facilitate employer discrimination
- Requesting disability or religious accommodations
- Requesting salary information that may uncover a wage gap
Wrongful Termination
Wrongful termination occurs when an employer fires an employee for an illegal reason. Termination may be wrongful if an employer fires an employee for any of the following reasons:
- Due to discrimination
- In violation of the law
- Because the employee reported or refused to participate in harassment
- Because the employee reported and refused to conduct an illegal act or safety violation
Contact a Providence Employment Dispute Attorney
If you are involved in an employment dispute in Providence, Rhode Island, then you need an experienced Providence employment dispute attorney on your side. At the Law Offices of William Kolb, LLC, we are here to assist you with your employment dispute matter. When you come to us for help, experienced Providence employment dispute attorney William Kolb will diligently pursue a successful resolution of your matter. Please contact us today to schedule a meeting with an experienced Providence employment dispute attorney.