Race and National Origin Discrimination Attorneys
Employment discrimination laws prohibit employers from discriminating against an employee or prospective employee on the basis of race or national origin, as well as a number of other traits such as gender/sex, age, and sexual orientation.
Lake County employment discrimination lawyer William J. Provenzano focuses on representing clients in all types of employment discrimination claims, including discrimination on the basis of race or national origin. We have considerable experience advocating on clients’ behalf before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and federal courts.
If you are looking for a race and national origin discrimination lawyer in Lake County, contact William J. Provenzano & Associates at (847) 816-6588.
Types of Race Discrimination and National Origin Discrimination
Federal and state law prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race or national origin. Discrimination occurs when an employment decision – including hiring, firing, promotion, demotion, job training, and compensation – is made on the basis of race or national origin, and it can manifest itself as disparate treatment or disparate impact.
A disparate treatment claim consists of treating an employee differently than other employees based on his or her race or national origin. For instance, if an employer only promotes members of a certain race, pays employees of a certain race less than others, or requires that members of a certain race submit to additional drug testing, the employee(s) may have a viable claim for racial discrimination.
On the other hand, disparate impact happens when a seemingly neutral policy has a disproportionate negative impact on members of a particular race. For instance, if an employment policy requires that employees meet certain height or physical appearance requirements, race discrimination or national original discrimination may be present because that policy might have a disproportionate impact on members of various ethnicities.
Harassing an employee on account of his or her race or national origin can also amount to discrimination. Harassment in the workplace consists of certain intimidating, hostile, or offensive conduct.
In some situations, discrimination and harassment is clear-cut, but in other situations, discrimination or harassment may be less obvious. A race and national origin discrimination attorney can help you understand your rights and legal options.
How to File a Discrimination Lawsuit
If you believe that you were the victim of race or national origin discrimination, before a lawsuit is filed in federal district court, a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) must be filed. The EEOC will investigate the complaint and, if it decides not to pursue the complaint, you will then have the opportunity to file a lawsuit in state or federal court within 90 days.
You should contact an employment discrimination lawyer as soon as possible if you have been subjected to discrimination in the workplace. Located in Lake County, Illinois, the employment law firm William J. Provenzano & Associates has focused exclusively on representing clients in all types of discrimination for more than 30 years. We have the specific knowledge, skill, and dedication that you need when pursuing a discrimination or other employment claim.
Contact our office today at (847) 816-6588.