Practice Areas Federal Employees States We Serve Texas

Talk to a Texas Federal Discrimination Attorney About Your Rights in Confidence

If you live in Texas and work for the federal government, it is important to make sure you know your rights. While federal employees are entitled to numerous protections, federal offices, agencies and departments don’t always hold up their end of the bargain. Discrimination is far more common than it should be—and, as a result, far too many government employees find themselves in need of an experienced Texas federal discrimination attorney.

Whether you work at one of the many federal buildings or courthouses in Texas, work at home, or work in the field, you are entitled to protection against many forms of discrimination on the job. We represent prospective, current and former federal employees in discrimination cases involving federal employers including (but not limited to):

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
• U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
• U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• Veterans Affairs (VA)

No matter where you work (or where you used to work or applied for a job) in the federal sector, your legal rights are clear. If you believe that your rights may have been violated, you should speak with a Texas federal discrimination attorney promptly. Our attorneys handle federal discrimination cases statewide; and, since we focus on representing federal employees, we are intimately familiar with federal employees’ rights and how to protect them.

Types of Federal Discrimination Cases We Handle

We handle all types of federal discrimination cases for current employees, former employees and job applicants who have been denied federal employment opportunities. Whether discrimination is the result of a systemic failure within a government organization or a single supervisor’s or manager’s misconduct, individuals who are negatively impacted can—and should—hire a Texas federal discrimination attorney to seek accountability. We file claims on behalf of Texas residents who have experienced employment-related discrimination in violation of:

• Age Discrimination in Employment Act – Discrimination Negatively Impacting Workers Age 40 or Older
• Civil Rights Act of 1964 – Race, Color, Religion, National Origin or Sex-Based Discrimination
• Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act – Discrimination Based on Family Medical History or Other Genetic Information
• Equal Pay Act – Sex-Based Discrimination in Compensation
• Pregnancy Discrimination Act – Discrimination Against Federal Employees or Job Applicants Who Are Pregnant, Thinking About Getting Pregnant, or Have a Medical Condition Related to Pregnancy or Childbirth
• Rehabilitation Act – Disability-Based Discrimination Against Federal Employees

As a federal employee (or former employee or job applicant), the steps you need to take to assert your rights depend on your individual circumstances. Our attorneys can explain everything you need to know, and we can represent you throughout the process of seeking the financial compensation and/or other remedies you deserve.

What is Considered Discrimination?

Just because you have been treated differently than your coworkers or fellow job applicants, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are a victim of federal discrimination. Discrimination has a specific definition under federal law, and dissimilar treatment of employees is justified in some circumstances.

But, in many cases, it is not. While discrimination has a specific definition, this definition is broad. Numerous types of employment practices and employment-related decisions can violate federal employees’ rights. For example, the following are all common examples of employment discrimination in the federal sector:

• Refusing to hire a federal job applicant based on a protected characteristic (i.e., race, religion, age or sex)
• Refusing to promote or award a pay raise to a federal employee based on a protected characteristic
• Refusing to provide a reasonable accommodation to a federal employee or job applicant who requests one due to a disability or religious belief
• Initiating a disciplinary action against a federal employee based on a protected characteristic
• Writing a negative performance review based solely on a federal employee’s protected characteristic
• Suspending or terminating a federal employee based on a protected characteristic

Again, these are just some of the most common examples. Discrimination can take many other forms as well; and, if you have any questions or concerns, we strongly encourage you to speak with one of our attorneys about your legal rights.

Harassment is Illegal Discrimination

Harassment is a common form of illegal discrimination as well. While sexual harassment is most common, federal employees can also experience harassment based on their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race, color, religion and other protected characteristics.

Similar to other forms of discrimination, not all forms of harassment will necessarily violate federal employees’ rights. Under federal law, there is a threshold for establishing that conduct is egregious enough to warrant governmental liability. With that said, we strongly encourage anyone who feels victimized to come forward, and we will hold your information in strict confidence as we help you decide whether a federal harassment claim is warranted.

Requirements for an Employment Discrimination Claim

Along with establishing that you are a victim, there are other requirements for filing an employment discrimination claim under federal law. For example, there are strict deadlines that apply, and there are specific procedures that you need to follow. Even if there is no question that you have been victimized, if you don’t take the right steps to protect yourself—or if you don’t take them on time—you may not be able to hold the government accountable. When you contact us, we will promptly assess your legal rights; and, if you have a claim, we will get to work promptly to make sure we are able to seek all available remedies on your behalf.

Contact a Texas Federal Discrimination Lawyer at the Law Firm of J.W. Stafford

Do you need to know more about your legal rights as a federal employee, former employee or job applicant in Texas? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. To arrange a confidential initial consultation with a Texas federal discrimination attorney at the Law Firm of J.W. Stafford, LLC, please call 410-514-6099 or contact us confidentially online today.