Fight for Your Rights: Work With An Oklahoma Discrimination Lawyer
Workplace discrimination can be a desperate situation. You want to keep your job, but you want the harassment and fear of losing it to end. More than that, you know your rights and want to fight to defend them. With an Oklahoma discrimination attorney from Punchwork Law, we’ll help you do just that.
In this article, we share essential information about discrimination and employment law. Learn all about your worker rights, and if you know you need a team of relentless Oklahoma discrimination lawyers at your side, contact us at Punchwork Law today.
Overview of Workplace Discrimination in Employment Law
Discrimination appears in different forms and occurs almost everywhere. Employment laws specifically protect you from workplace discrimination.
This involves your employers or coworkers treating you poorly or differently because of your race, skin color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age, or genetic information.
However, employment laws and institutions like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) exist to protect you when employment discrimination involves:
- Unfair treatment
- Workplace harassment
- Denial of a reasonable workplace accommodation
- Clear bias in hiring, promotion, assignment, termination, and job compensation
- Improper questions or forced disclosure of your genetic or medical information
- Retaliation against you for filing complaints about workplace discrimination
There are also a number of federal laws in place that legally protect you from job discrimination, such as:
- Equal Pay Act – Prevents unions and employers from paying different wages based on an employee’s sex.
- Fair Labor Standards Act – Prevents the same discrimination, but fills a gap by applying to businesses engaged in interstate commerce.
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act – Outlaws discrimination by employers, labor organizations, and employment agencies on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act – Keeps employers from discriminating based on age, particularly those age 40 and above.
- Rehabilitation Act – Prevents discrimination against individuals with qualifying disabilities from working in the federal government.
- Americans with Disabilities Act – Further protects the rights of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of employment.
- Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act – Outlaws discrimination based on genetic information of an applicant, employee, or former employee.
- Executive Order 11246 – Prevents federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment decisions based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and national origin.
These laws are in place to protect your rights as a worker, no matter who you are. And yet, workplace discrimination and harassment still happen.
When it does happen to you, call on organizations like the EEOC or work with top experts in Oklahoma employment discrimination law, like ours at Punchwork Law.
Specific Oklahoma Discrimination Laws
On top of the many federal laws, the state of Oklahoma also has a number of its own anti-discrimination protections, including:
- The Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act – A protection for employees in small businesses, this act outlaws employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information.
- Varying Local Ordinances – Several municipalities across Oklahoma provide additional protections. For example, cities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa have policies that protect city employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation, while the city of Norman prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
It’s fortunate to have laws in place at nearly every level to ensure your worker rights are protected. But there’s still a possibility of workplace discrimination and harassment. If and when you experience it from your Oklahoma employer, reach out to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC).
If you feel you need legal assistance or representation in court, talk to Punchwork Law. We’re always ready to lend a hand and help you fight for your rights.
What an Experienced Oklahoma Discrimination Attorney Can Do
Let’s say you’ve experienced workplace discrimination and are considering meeting with an Oklahoma discrimination lawyer. You might be wondering what a lawyer can do to help you. Let’s break down why it can be beneficial to work with one.
Experience With Employment Discrimination Cases & Institutions
Attorneys in employment law will have experience in helping their clients make complaints with enforcement agencies like the EEOC and the OESC. They’ll also guide you through the state and federal courts to help your case move forward in the right direction.
Expertise In Investigating Claims
An experienced Oklahoma discrimination lawyer can also gather every bit of useful evidence to develop a strong case for your discrimination lawsuit. This includes employment policies, communications, witness testimonies, company responses to complaints, and more. Our Oklahoma discrimination law firm will collect the right evidence needed to ensure your case is airtight.
Knowledgeable in Federal & State Discrimination Laws
Another reason to work with a seasoned lawyer in employment law is that they know the crucial state and federal laws involved in workplace discrimination. They can tell which ones apply to your case. On top of that, they will prove how your employer broke these laws, getting you the justice you deserve.
Determined in Negotiations & Representation in Court
Once your case is ready, there are only a few things left for your lawyer to do. One is to find out if there are any opportunities to get a settlement from your employer. This can help remove the stress of going to court.
In the event your employer offers a settlement agreement, we’ll help you negotiate so you get every bit of compensation you deserve. Not only that, but we’ll make sure your employer fulfills non-monetary conditions, including apologies, job references, or employment policy changes.
If a settlement isn’t offered, that’s fine. We’ll still fight for you in court, ensuring you get compensation for your troubles and abusive employers face the consequences of their actions.
Trust Punchwork Law to Defend Your Workplace Rights
Discrimination shouldn’t be tolerated anywhere near your home, school, or workplace. All hardworking people deserve to earn their daily wages in peace. When that’s disrupted because of someone’s ill-judgment of you, don’t hesitate. Fight for your rights. Fight to be respected. Start by calling Punchwork Law today.