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Workplace Racial Discrimination

There are several federally protected characteristics upon which it is unlawful for employers to base intentionally discriminatory actions against their employees. Characteristics such as national origin, sex, religion, race, and color are protected by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Based on this 1964 act, it is a violation of the law for an employer to discriminate against an employee or applicant for employment because of their race or color. Title VII also protects individuals from adverse employment decisions based on stereotypes or false assumptions about the individual's abilities or talents based on their race or color. When employers exhibit discriminatory actions against an individual due to their race or color, the individual should contact racial discrimination lawyers at once.

Do you believe you are the victim of race or color discrimination at your job, if so you may have a case against your employer. Contact a workplace racial discrimination lawyer in your local area to discuss your legal options today.

Discrimination Based on Race

When discrimination occurs based on immutable characteristics such as hair texture or facial features, this discrimination is classified as racial discrimination. For example, a policy against facial hair or against an illness such as sickle cell anemia could be discriminatory against African-Americans. Because sickle cell anemia predominately affects African-Americans and because some African-American males are predisposed to severe shaving bumps, these two employment policies may be deemed discriminatory against the African-American race in general. Employees that feel their employer's policies, actions, or behaviors constitute racial discrimination will need the legal expertise of racial discrimination attorneys. The experienced attorneys at racial discrimination law firms can aid employees in filing their racial discrimination claim against their employer.

Discrimination Based on Color

While race and color are often used interchangeably, there two terms are not synonymous. Color refers to the following:

• Pigmentation
• Complexion
• Skin color
• Skin tone

When a person is treated unfairly due to the lightness or darkness of their skin, this is considered color discrimination. Regardless of the color of one's skin, it is a violation of federal law to discriminate against an individual because of this characteristic. In either racial or color discrimination cases, the plaintiff must carry the burden of proof. For this reason, it is imperative that employees that have been the victim of racial or color discrimination retain the legal services of professional racial discrimination lawyers.

Protections Offered by Title VII

The following are a few of the protections offered under Title VII:

• Recruiting, Hiring, Promotion – regardless of an employee's race or color, job requirements must be applied in a uniform and consistent manner.
• Conditions of employment – terms, conditions, and privileges of employment cannot be based on the employee's race or color.
• Harassment – jokes, slurs, or offensive comments based on an employee's race or color are prohibited.
• Retaliation – employee's have the right to file a complaint of racial discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) without fear of retaliation by their employer.
• Employee Segregation and Classification – employees cannot be physically separated or isolated from other co-workers based on race or color.
• Pre-employment inquiries – employers cannot request employee information designed to ascertain the race or color of an applicant for employment.

If an employee or applicant for employment feels they have been the target of racial discrimination, they will require the assistance of racial discrimination attorneys.

If you have been the victim of race discrimination at your workplace, you may have a legal case to file against your employer. Contact a workplace racial discrimination lawyer in your local area to discuss your legal options today.