Your Advocate In Racial Discrimination Cases
Your job is an essential part of supporting yourself and your loved ones. Your work may also be part of a long journey of developing your knowledge and skills in your field. Being the victim of discrimination can make the workplace feel like an impossible place to be.
My name is Michael W. DeWitt. I am a lawyer at my firm, DeWitt Law, LLC, and I believe everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity in the workplace, regardless of race or ethnicity. Unfortunately, racial discrimination in the workplace remains a pervasive problem, affecting employees in a variety of ways.
What Does Racial Discrimination In The Workplace Look Like?
Racial discrimination can take many different forms, some of which may be more subtle than others, including:
- Hiring discrimination: This is when an employer refuses to hire someone because of their race.
- Termination discrimination: This is when an employer fires someone because of their race.
- Wage discrimination: This is when an employer pays someone less than they are worth because of their race.
- Harassment: This is when an employer or co-worker makes unwanted verbal or physical contact of a racial nature.
- Retaliation: This is when an employer takes adverse action against an employee because the employee has complained about discrimination, filed a workers’ compensation claim or engaged in another protected activity.
There may also be situations in which an employer creates policies or practices that disproportionately harm employees of certain races or ethnicities, such as strict dress codes or English-only policies.
How Does Employment Law Protect Employees From Racial Discrimination?
Federal and state employment laws prohibit discrimination based on race or ethnicity in all aspects of employment, including hiring, firing, promotions, pay and working conditions. The most well-known federal law is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Ohio law also prohibits employment discrimination based on race or ethnicity. It provides additional protections for employees who are victims of discrimination, including the right to file a complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
What Can Employees Do If They Experience Racial Discrimination In The Workplace?
Employees who experience racial discrimination in the workplace have several options for seeking relief. They can file a complaint with their employers’ human resources departments or the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, or they can file a lawsuit in court. It is important to note that employees who complain about racial discrimination are protected from retaliation by their employer, meaning that their employer cannot take adverse employment actions against them for making a complaint.
Contact Me For Help With Workplace Discrimination
If you have experienced racial discrimination in the workplace, I am here to help. As the founder of DeWitt Law, LLC, I am a knowledgeable employment law attorney who can advise you on your legal rights and options. I can represent you in negotiations, administrative proceedings or court. Contact me today to schedule a free consultation and learn how I can assist you in seeking justice for workplace discrimination. To make an appointment at my Columbus office, call 614-762-9641 or contact me online.