Employment Discrimination Prohibited Under Both Missouri and Federal Law
There are federal and state laws which prohibit employers from discriminating against both employees and applicants for employment. The federal laws prohibiting discrimination are known as Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Missouri prohibits discrimination under the Missouri Human Rights Act. All of these laws protect employees who believe they have been fired or not promoted or not hired in the first place because of one of the following reasons:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender
- National Origin
- Race
- Religion
What Is A Hostile Work Environment?
Both employers and employees seem to be confused about what constitutes a "hostile work environment". That term does not necessarily mean that your supervisor is mean to you. What it means is that you are treated less favorably by your supervisor because of one of the reasons listed above. It also includes sexual harassment by co-workers and supervisors. If you believe that your work environment is hostile because of your age, your gender (male or female), your race, your national origin, your religion or the fact that you suffer some form of disability, then you must report that to the employer. If the employer does nothing or retaliates against you, you may have a claim of discrimination.
The Law Also Protect "Whistle-Blowers"
If your employer is engaged in misconduct or doing something illegal, if you report your employer to the appropriate regulatory agency and you are then fired, you may have protection under the law.
Holding the Employer Accountable
If you believe that you have been a victim of discrimination or that you lost your job for reporting wrongdoing by your employer, call us. We will aggressively investigate your claim and take action to protect your rights and hold the employer accountable for its actions.
