Rhode Island Federal Employment Discrimination Lawyer
Protect Your Rights with the Help of a Rhode Island Federal Employment Discrimination Lawyer
According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Rhode Island is home to nearly 7,000 federal government employees. This includes thousands of civilian employees of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), as well as employees of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and other agencies.
As a federal employee in Rhode Island, you have clear legal rights. This includes the right to be free from discrimination in the workplace. If you have experienced disparate treatment, harassment, retaliation or any other form of improper adverse employment action, you should discuss your legal rights with a Rhode Island federal employment discrimination lawyer promptly.
Standing Up for Federal Employees’ Rights in Rhode Island
At The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, we stand up for the rights of federal employees in Rhode Island. We have a proven record of taking on the U.S. government—and winning. If you have experienced any form of discrimination in a federal workplace, we can help you understand the options you have available, and we can take all necessary legal action on your behalf.
Unfortunately, federal employment discrimination is far more common than it should be. Despite clear prohibitions and protections under laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, federal agencies continue to discriminate against employees (and job candidates) in various ways. If you believe you are a victim of discrimination, you are not alone, and you should not ignore your situation. You should take action to hold the federal government accountable—and this starts with putting an experienced Rhode Island federal employment discrimination lawyer on your side.
Federal Employment Discrimination Takes Many Forms
Discrimination in the workplace can take many different forms. At The Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, we represent federal employees who have experienced all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on:
- Age – Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), federal employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees who are 40 years old or older based on their age.
- Color, Race or National Origin – The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in employment based on a federal employee’s and job candidate’s color, race or national origin.
- Disability – The Rehabilitation Act applies the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to the U.S. government. As a result, federal agencies are prohibited from discriminating based on employees’ and job candidates’ disabilities, and they must provide reasonable accommodations to those who need them.
- Gender or Sex – The Civil Rights Act of 1964 also prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender or sex, and the Equal Pay Act requires federal agencies to pay men and women equally for substantially equal work.
- Genetic Information – Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), genetic information is a protected characteristic. This means that federal employers cannot make employment-related decisions based on employees’ and job candidates’ family medical histories.
- Pregnancy – The Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) protects federal employees and job applicants against discrimination based on their pregnancy or recent childbirth.
- Religion – Religion is also a protected characteristic under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Discrimination based on employees’ and job candidates’ religious beliefs is prohibited, and federal employers must provide reasonable accommodations so that employees can observe their religious beliefs as well.
While discrimination will be open and obvious in some cases, in others, it will be more difficult to discern. However, the law makes clear that federal employers cannot justify discrimination based on pretexts—or supposedly legitimate justifications for disparate treatment or adverse action. As a result, if you have experienced any of the following and believe that you may be a victim of discrimination, you should contact a Rhode Island federal employment discrimination lawyer:
- Denial or termination of security clearance
- Discrepancies in wages, hours or job assignments
- Failure to provide reasonable accommodations
- Harassment and bullying
- Refusal to hire or promote
- Retaliation
- Unjustified discipline or negative performance reviews
- Wrongful termination
Under federal law, employees of federal agencies only have 45 days to assert their legal rights after experiencing discrimination in the workplace. We can arrange for you to speak with a lawyer promptly, and we can take legal action on your behalf immediately if necessary.
Speak with a Rhode Island Federal Employment Discrimination Lawyer in Confidence
If you have questions about pursuing a claim for federal employment discrimination in Rhode Island, we encourage you to contact us for an initial consultation. To speak with an experienced lawyer in confidence as soon as possible, please call 410-514-6099 or tell us how we can reach you online now.