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Contact a Maryland Gender Discrimination Attorney to Learn Your Rights
Even with all of the social advances made in recent years by the women’s rights’ and LGBT movements, sex and gender discrimination remain prevalent in many workplaces. Federal and state laws target a multitude of discriminatory acts by employers, including sexual harassment and refusing to accommodate the needs of transgender employees, but laws do not enforce themselves.If you are a victim of illegal conduct at work, you need to speak with a qualified Maryland gender discrimination attorney at our firm. We can advise you on the appropriate steps to take to remedy the situation.
The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, L.L.C. is experienced in helping individuals affected by all types of gender-based discrimination.
The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, L.L.C. is experienced in helping individuals affected by all types of gender-based discrimination. In many cases, we find victims are not fully aware of their legal rights. They may also assume that certain conduct is not actually covered by anti-discrimination laws. For instance, sex discrimination does not have to involve a member of the opposite sex. When it comes to sexual harassment, both the aggressor and the victim can have the same sex or gender.
WHAT CONSTITUTES SEX DISCRIMINATION?
At its core, sex discrimination is treating someone unfavorably in an employment context due to their sex or gender. This encompasses all aspects of employment, starting with the hiring process and extending to compensation, job assignments, training, performance reviews, promotions, and layoffs, among other things. In Maryland, even employment policies that are facially neutral but have a disparate and negative impact on one gender may be considered sex discrimination if it is not necessary to the operation of the employer’s business.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces federal civil rights laws, has also said that “sex discrimination” includes any discriminatory act “based on gender identity or sexual orientation.” This mirrors the State of Maryland’s own anti-discrimination laws, which expressly cover LGBT individuals.
LGBT-related discrimination includes refusing to provide benefits (e.g., health insurance) to a legal same-sex spouse, denying a transgender employee access to a sex-specific restroom that conforms to his or her gender identity, and creating or maintaining a hostile work environment towards an employee who is undergoing a gender transition.
In fact, sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims are something we see quite frequently at The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, L.L.C. It is important to understand that these types of cases are highly fact-specific. Not every offensive off-hand remark made by a co-worker or supervisor will support a gender discrimination claim. Our experienced legal team can review your particular situation and advise you accordingly.
OUR MARYLAND GENDER DISCRIMINATION ATTORNEY CAN HELP YOU FILE A CLAIM
Gender discrimination cases are not as simple as suing your employer in court. If you work in the private sector, you must first file a charge with either the EEOC’s Baltimore Field Office or the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR). Following an investigation–and a possible mediation session between you and your employer–the agency can either decide to bring legal action on your behalf or give you a “Notice of Right to Sue.”
Before you file a complaint with the EEOC or MCCR, you should first speak with a qualified Maryland gender discrimination attorney. Attorney Jamaal (“Jay”) W. Stafford and his team understand the agency complaint process and can assist you with your discrimination case from start-to-finish. Contact us online or call The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, L.L.C., today at 410-514-6099 to schedule a consultation.
Sexual Discrimination
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