Florida Employment Discrimination Lawyer

Workplace discrimination is an unfortunate reality for many employees. Discrimination based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation, disability status, and more can be pervasive. It’s important for employees to know their rights and to get help from an experienced employment discrimination lawyer if they believe their employer has acted unlawfully against them.

When it comes to legal protection and standing up for your rights in the workplace, Florida workers can count on Yormak Employment & Disability Law.

Our law firm specializes in representing only employees. Led by board-certified expert Benjamin Yormak, our attorneys offer legal counsel to help Florida employees protect their rights, seek compensation for the wrongs they’ve suffered, and prevent similar situations from happening in the future.

If you are not sure your case has grounds for a legal discrimination claim, contact us today for a free consultation.

Anti-Discrimination Laws

Below are some of the most relevant laws we apply to discrimination cases.

Federal Employment Laws

The federal government protects employees from workplace discrimination through several key statutes enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC):

• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) prohibits employers from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. This law applies to employers with 15 or more employees.
• The Equal Pay Act requires that men and women receive equal pay for equal work in the same establishment, addressing wage discrimination based on sex and ensuring compensation equity across gender lines.
• The Pregnancy Discrimination Act protects women from discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, treating pregnancy-related conditions as temporary disabilities under employment law.
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act protects workers aged 40 and older from age-based discrimination in hiring, firing, promotion, and other employment decisions.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so would cause undue hardship.

Florida Employment Laws

Florida law provides additional protections against workplace discrimination at the state level:

• The Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992 (FCRA) protects workers from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or marital status in hiring and firing decisions. Notably, the FCRA includes marital status as a protected category, which extends beyond federal protections.
• Anti-Retaliation Provisions under the FCRA prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who speak out or report discrimination in the workplace, ensuring that workers can assert their rights without fear of adverse employment consequences.
• Private Right of Action provisions allow employees to file claims directly against their employers for damages resulting from discrimination, providing an avenue for legal recourse independent of administrative proceedings.

Discriminatory Practices

Race Discrimination

Despite clear legal protections, racial discrimination continues to occur in Florida workplaces. Employers may rely on racial stereotypes in hiring decisions, show a preference for one race over another, or engage in discriminatory practices that create hostile work environments, whether overt or subtle.

Employment discrimination based on race causes real harm to workers and their families. If you believe you have been the victim of racial discrimination, contact our Florida employment discrimination lawyers to discuss your legal options.

Religious Discrimination

It’s illegal for employers to discriminate against employees on the basis of religion. An employer may refuse to hire someone because of their religious beliefs or try to force an employee to change their beliefs or practices.

Religious discrimination can hurt employees’ careers and job satisfaction. It can also create a hostile work environment. If you believe that you have been the victim of religious discrimination, talk to our Florida discrimination lawyers today.

Disability Discrimination

Employment discrimination based on a disability is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”). The ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified workers during job application procedures, hiring, firing, promotion, compensation, training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.

Courts have also held that employers may be liable for failing to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to a job or work environment that enable an individual with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

If you have been the victim of disability discrimination, don’t hesitate to speak to an attorney about your case.

Age Discrimination

Age discrimination in employment is a very real thing. Older workers are often passed over for promotions or new opportunities in favor of younger, less experienced employees.

This type of discrimination is unfair and unjust. No one should be judged solely on their age. Experience and qualifications should be the main factors considered when hiring or promoting someone. Seek legal help from a Florida age discrimination lawyer if you have been a victim.

Sex Discrimination

It is illegal for employers to discriminate against employees based on their sex. This happens when an employer treats someone unfavorably because of their gender. It includes unequal pay, promotions, or opportunities tied to a person’s sex. If this is your case, we may file a claim based on the terms of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Marital Status Discrimination

Marital status discrimination occurs when an employer treats someone unfairly because they are married, single, divorced, or widowed. Examples include refusing to hire a married woman due to assumptions about future pregnancy or providing benefits only to single employees while denying them to married employees.

Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination can involve an employer not hiring or promoting a pregnant woman despite her qualifications, denying her certain benefits that are available to other employees, or forcing her to take unpaid leave while she is pregnant.

A way to address pregnancy discrimination is to file a discrimination claim with the help of an attorney who can protect your workplace rights.

Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Although discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal in Florida, many employees are still subjected to this kind of discrimination at work. From an employer making negative remarks about a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity to denying them certain benefits or promotions, if you have been discriminated because of sexual orientation or gender identity, contact an experienced employment lawyer.

Other Types of Discrimination We Can Help

MLA Discrimination: The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that allows eligible employees to take unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons. Unfortunately, some employers interfere with, deny, or retaliate against employees who exercise their FMLA rights. If your FMLA rights have been violated, we can help you take action against your employer and protect your rights.

Military Status Discrimination: Service members and veterans are protected from workplace discrimination under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and other federal and state laws. These laws prohibit discrimination based on military service or veteran status. If you have been discriminated against because of your military status, our Florida employment discrimination lawyers can help you fight for justice.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

At Yormak Employment & Disability Law, we offer a free case evaluation to employees who believe they were denied equal treatment based on a protected characteristic.

With Florida employment discrimination lawyer Benjamin Yormak’s expertise, you can be sure that you are getting top legal representation.

We can fight against any adverse employment action and protect your rights, and seek compensation for the harm done to you. Contact us today for a confidential consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I need an employment discrimination lawyer for unfair treatment at work?

If you are experiencing workplace discrimination, a hostile environment, or believe you were wrongfully terminated, speaking with an employment discrimination lawyer can help you understand your rights. We may evaluate whether the conduct you’re facing violates state and federal law, including the Florida Civil Rights Act and federal law, such as Title VII.

What types of employment discrimination are recognized under state and federal law?

Both state and federal law prohibit a wide range of employment discrimination, including racial discrimination, gender discrimination, age discrimination, sex discrimination, national origin bias, religious discrimination, and disability discrimination. Florida employees are also protected by the Florida Civil Rights Act with additional remedies. Many claims involve unfair treatment, lack of reasonable accommodations, or retaliation after reporting illegal behavior.

What should I do if I’m facing sexual harassment or a hostile work environment?

If you are dealing with sexual harassment or a hostile work environment, document the conduct, report it to your HR department if safe to do so, and consult workplace discrimination lawyers. Harassment can violate discrimination laws when it affects job performance and is pervasive, and most employees have protections through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Can an employee file a claim under the Florida Civil Rights Act and federal law at the same time?

In many cases, yes. Florida employment discrimination lawyers frequently file claims under both the Florida Civil Rights Act and federal law to preserve all available legal options. Which laws apply may depend on employer size, the type of discrimination involved, and whether the allegations fall under statutes like Title VII or a specific employment act.

What counts as employer retaliation after reporting discrimination in the workplace?

Employer retaliation occurs when a worker is punished for reporting discrimination in the workplace, participating in an investigation, or opposing unlawful conduct. Retaliation can include being demoted, denied training opportunities, receiving reduced hours, or being wrongfully terminated. Retaliation is prohibited under both state laws and federal protections designed to protect employees from adverse treatment.

Can denied employment be considered discrimination based on protected status?

Yes. Denied employment can constitute unlawful discrimination when the decision is based on a protected status such as race, disability, pregnancy, or sexual orientation. Job applicants and employees working in Florida are protected by discrimination laws that prohibit decisions motivated by discrimination based on stereotypes, assumptions, or certain religious beliefs.

What should I do if I believe I was wrongfully terminated for reasons related to discrimination?

If you think you were wrongfully terminated due to discrimination, consult workplace discrimination lawyers to help determine whether your termination violated the Civil Rights Act, the Employment Act, or other anti-discrimination policies.