Have you experienced discrimination in the workplace in Harrisburg, PA? An experienced Harrisburg employment discrimination lawyer at Marzzacco Niven & Associates can fight to protect your legal rights.
Our lawyers have been fighting hard to protect our clients’ rights for decades. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for satisfied clients across Pennsylvania.
We know that unfair treatment in the workplace can be overwhelming. Call (717) 231-1640 at our law firm in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to schedule a free consultation today to learn more about your legal options.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help With an Employment Discrimination Claim in Harrisburg, PA
Workplace discrimination can have a serious impact on your career. However, discrimination isn’t always easy to prove. You may know that you’ve been treated unfairly–but how do you protect yourself?
It can be difficult to stand up for your rights when your career is on the line. Our Harrisburg employment attorneys can help. We’ve been fighting to protect victims of workplace discrimination for decades and would be happy to put our experience to work for you.
When you hire Marzzacco Niven & Associates, your attorney will:
- Evaluate your legal options under state and federal employment laws
- Investigate your case
- Gather the evidence required to support your claim
- Represent you during negotiations with your employer
- Protect you from retaliation
- Advocate for your rights in court if necessary
Our Harrisburg employment lawyers have been recognized as Super Lawyers and the Best Lawyers in America. Let us take the lead and help you secure a safe and fair work environment.
If you’ve been discriminated against in hiring, training, compensation, or upon termination, we can help. Call our law offices today to schedule a free consultation to learn more about our practice areas.
Overview of Employment Discrimination Laws
You deserve to feel safe and respected in the workplace. Unfortunately, workplace discrimination is common. It can occur during the hiring process or during the course of employment.
Federal laws provide broad protection against employment discrimination. Pennsylvania state laws also protect workers who have been discriminated against because of membership in a protected class.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law administered by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The law applies to employers with at least 15 employees.
Title VII prevents both intentional discrimination and actions that have a discriminatory effect on members of a protected class.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects employees and job applicants who are at least 40 years old. Qualified employees over age 40 cannot be paid less, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against because of their age.
The Americans With Disabilities Act
The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination based on an employer’s disability.
The employer may also be required to provide reasonable accommodation to permit qualified employees to work despite the presence of a disability or certain medical conditions.
Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act prohibits discrimination based on the following protected classes:
- Race
- Color
- Familial status
- Religious creed
- Ancestry
- Age
- Sex or sexual orientation
- National origin
- Handicap or disability
- The use of support animals because of blindness or hearing loss
Have you experienced discrimination in the workplace in Harrisburg? It’s important to speak with an experienced employment lawyer who can protect your rights. Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates for a free case review today.
We Handle All Types of Employment Discrimination Claims in Harrisburg
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we handle all types of employment discrimination claims in Harrisburg, including those involving:
- Age discrimination
- Sex, including pregnancy discrimination
- Gender and sexual orientation
- Gender identity and expression
- Religious beliefs
- Disability
- Race
- National origin
- Veteran status or military service
- Use of family and medical leave
- Whistleblower status
- Equal Pay Act violations
- Wage and hour violations
If you have suffered discrimination based on your membership in a protected class, you may be entitled to financial compensation under state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
There are two primary types of discrimination in Pennsylvania: disparate treatment discrimination and disparate impact discrimination.
Both types of discrimination can impact your career and your ability to earn a living. Our Harrisburg employment discrimination attorneys are here to help you fight for justice. Don’t hesitate to reach out to our law offices today.
Disparate Treatment Discrimination
Disparate treatment discrimination is intentional discrimination. It is illegal to intentionally single out members in a protected class for different treatment or to subject members of one protected class to different workplace policies.
For example, it would be illegal to require that all women complete an employment-related test that does not apply to male employees.
Disparate Impact Discrimination
Disparate impact discrimination is usually unintentional. It occurs when all employees are subject to the same policies and requirements, yet some of those policies disproportionately impact members of a protected class.
This type of disparate impact isn’t always illegal. Certain job requirements and policies may be legal if the employer has a legitimate, job-related reason for applying the requirement or policy.
Common Examples of Employment Discrimination
Employment discrimination can come in many forms–and it’s not always easy to identify.
The following are some common examples of scenarios that could amount to workplace discrimination:
- Refusing to hire someone because of membership in a protected class
- Mandating a dress code that discriminates against members of a religious group
- Wrongful termination based on age, disability, or membership in another protected group
- Failure to pay equal wages to similarly qualified employees
- Wrongful termination for reporting sexual harassment or discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Harassment based on membership in a protected class
- Creating intolerable working conditions to force an employee to quit
- Denying promotions, raises, and work opportunities to members of a certain class
- Demotions or reassignments that have a negative impact on a protected group
- Refusing to provide reasonable accommodation to disabled employees
Many workers are uncertain about whether they have experienced actionable employment discrimination. If you have questions about your legal rights and options, don’t hesitate to reach out for help today. We offer a free case review, so call our lawyers in Harrisburg today to schedule a time to talk about your legal issues.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Victims of Employment Discrimination?
The types of damages available to victims of employment discrimination can vary. Your damages will depend on the nature of the harm you’ve suffered because of the discrimination.
Examples of the types of damages that may be available include:
- Out-of-pocket expenses, including costs associated with a job search or medical bills
- Back pay and benefits
- Reinstatement
- Compensation for emotional distress, depression, and anxiety
- Attorneys’ fees and court costs
- Expert witness fees
In especially serious cases, you may even be entitled to recover punitive damages.
How Do I Prove Liability for Employment Discrimination in Pennsylvania?
Proving employment discrimination isn’t always easy. Our lawyers are here to help gather the evidence you’ll need to support your claim.
Generally, to prove you’ve been a victim of disparate treatment discrimination, you’ll be required to prove that:
- You are a member of a protected class
- The employer knew you were a member of a protected class
- You suffered some type of harm
- Other similarly situated employees who were not in that protected class did not suffer the same type of harm
Proving disparate impact discrimination can be especially complex. In reality, disparate treatment is often subtle.
In a disparate impact discrimination case, you’ll have to prove:
- An employment practice caused people in a protected class to be treated worse than members of another group
- The employer had no legitimate business purpose for the employment practice
- The employer couldn’t have achieved the same business goal using a non-discriminatory practice
Employers often try to justify discriminatory practices with complaints about an employee’s performance. These excuses aren’t always legitimate. We can help you fight back. Call Marzzacco Niven & Associates for the quality legal advice you deserve today.
How Long Do I Have to File an Employment Discrimination Claim in Pennsylvania?
You won’t always have an unlimited amount of time to take legal action. The deadline will depend on the law that applies in your case. For example, EEOC claims must generally be filed within 180 days of the discriminatory action. That deadline can be extended to 300 days if a Pennsylvania law also applies.
Under Pennsylvania state law, you’re required to file a discrimination claim within 180 days.
Filing an employment discrimination claim can be complicated. Our lawyers are here to help you navigate the process. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help.
Contact a Harrisburg Employment Discrimination Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You shouldn’t have to struggle with workplace discrimination. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we would be happy to stand up for your legal rights and fight for the fair compensation you deserve. Are you ready to learn more? Call a Harrisburg employment discrimination lawyer to schedule a free case review today.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Harrisburg, PA
Marzzacco Niven & Associates
945 E Park Dr Suite 103, Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640
Our team of attorneys at Marzzacco Niven & Associates also handles personal injury lawsuits, workers’ compensation cases, and social security disability cases.