Get Justice With Our South Carolina Discrimination Attorneys
Discrimination doesn’t just mean one thing. It can be subtle signs of sexual harassment, casual conversation turned derogatory, or even something as simple as being denied leave.
Each of these things is uniquely distressing, and it’s hard to know without help from an employment law expert where to turn next.
Because hostile work environments can make it feel impossible to stand on your own two feet and fight back, Punchwork Law’s South Carolina discrimination lawyers stand up against workplace discrimination with true legal knowledge.
Our team is made up of employment discrimination experts ready to make sure your voice is heard.
Don’t spend any more time letting those small-but-rough words get you down. Take action in the office, on paper, or in court with an employment discrimination lawyer who knows how to get employers talking.
How Is Workplace Discrimination Defined in South Carolina?
South Carolina is an at-will employment state, meaning employers can fire or let employees go without a clear reason. The only stipulation? They can’t fire you based on certain characteristics of who you are, or for retaliation for an honest act you did.
If you suspect that you were terminated on the basis of any of these protected characteristics, go straight to a wrongful termination attorney from Punchwork Law:
- Sex
- Age
- National Origin
- Pregnancy Status
- Disability
Because employment laws vary by state, workers need to know how their state handles discrimination cases. While there are some stipulations laid out by the United States Supreme Court that even state law can’t refute, South Carolina protects employees with the following laws:
Human Affairs Law
Enforced by the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, the state’s Human Affairs Law provides employees with the same protections as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. They’re safe from being fired because of sexual orientation, color, or any other core characteristic.
Hiring & Firing
If employers refuse to hire someone because of protected traits, or harass or fire them because of those traits, it is also unlawful. If you can prove that your employer made their decision based on something you can’t change, you’ve got a viable case we can lead.
Pay & Promotions
Pay should not be unequally distributed unless it’s based on your role and the level of responsibility. If your employer is limiting opportunities from person to person and the reason isn’t based on performance, this is considered illegal under the Human Affairs Law.
Policies
Your employer cannot put policies in place that directly or indirectly impact one specific group of people over others. Policies that seem unnecessary but exist to hurt an isolated group can be illegal and should be investigated.
Examples of Hostile Work Environments
Maybe you’ve been downplaying your hostile work environment in SC because you don’t want to “cause problems.”
While that may temporarily soothe things, it’s not a resolution. The only fix when you’re being talked down to, ignored, or purposefully underpaid is legal action.
These common hostile work settings happen to more workers than they care to admit, even in SC:
- Jokes about race, sexual identity, or age
- Unwanted advances
- Religious discrimination
- Disability-related harassment
- Retaliation for filing a complaint or reporting a safety violation
Think You’ve Got a Case? Start Here.
Although the incident might feel real to you, you’ve got to have ample proof that the discriminatory act took place. Why? The court might not even consider your case if you don’t have the evidence to back it up.
It’s the sad truth, and our employment discrimination lawyers SC make it our mission to turn workplace harassment into a win in court. Reporting discrimination may seem like the right first step, but it may delay your chances of creating an air-tight case.
When it’s time to show your employer that you aren’t willing to just let things go, start with these steps:
Contact an EEOC attorney in South Carolina
This is the first step to getting results, not more questions. Punchwork Law has offices all across South Carolina, so you can speak to a real person with real, honest answers. No confusing legal jargon allowed.
At your first visit, we’ll let you know whether you have a case worth pursuing.
Compile Your Evidence
Next, we need to gather all necessary evidence (in any format) for submission. This could be anything from videos to personal accounts. We just need proof that shows a clear sign of discrimination, whether verbal or written.
File A Formal Charge With The State and Federal Courts
Then, we’ll take over all filing responsibilities, like sending your information to the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. Note that you must send in this information within 180 days of the discriminatory act. If not, we can’t guarantee that your case will become valid.
Loop in The EEOC
Lastly, we’ll loop in the EEOC as a part of your formal complaint process. This only happens if your case falls under federal law, and dual-filing is an option for most people. The two agencies (EEOC and SCHAC) work together to ensure that those who are discriminated against are protected.
For filing with the EEOC, you have 300 days from the initial act to file.
If it’s time to start looking up online, “employment law attorneys near me”, reach out to us. We’re happy to offer a free consultation for workers in South Carolina.
Tired of Mistreatment? Call Punchwork Law
Your last work interaction should not be one where you were mistreated. It should be one where you were lifted up by your coworkers or taken seriously by your boss for doing actual good work. When you know you’re being mistreated but don’t know where to turn, our South Carolina Lawyers can be the shoulders you lean on.
Whether you need help starting your claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or just don’t know if your case falls under civil rights law, our law firm is here to help you get justice. Contact our team for legal services today.
