Workplace discrimination can threaten your career, safety, and your emotional well-being. If you have been a victim, an experienced employment discrimination lawyer in York, PA, can help you fight for justice. Our lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates will help you fight to recover every dollar that’s available under the law.
Collectively, our attorneys have over 120 years of experience handling complex workplace discrimination claims. We’ve successfully helped our clients recover tens of millions of dollars over the years.
It can be tough to know where to turn for help if you have experienced employment discrimination. You can contact our law offices in York, Pennsylvania, anytime at (717) 995-8998 to set up a free consultation with a lawyer who can help.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help With an Employment Discrimination Case in York, PA
You deserve to feel safe and respected in the workplace. Employment discrimination infringes on your basic civil rights. Fortunately, you’re protected under various laws. That said, it’s not always easy to prove your case and get justice.
An experienced York employment lawyer can help. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our lawyers have been recognized by Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers of America.
When you trust us to protect your rights, you’ll have a lawyer to:
- Investigate and gather evidence to prove your case
- Determine the legal theories that apply to your case
- File all paperwork with the EEOC and other agencies
- Represent you at all hearings and throughout the legal process
- Help you document the types of damages you have suffered
- Negotiate for the maximum compensation you deserve
Our York employment law attorneys are here to protect you in any way we can–and we’re passionate about helping clients like you get justice. Just call to schedule a free case review today.
Overview of Pennsylvania State and Federal Employment Discrimination Laws
Employment discrimination has always been a problem in the U.S. That’s why various federal and state laws now exist to protect workers who have been subject to discrimination in the workplace.
The laws that will apply in your case depend on the nature of the discrimination you have experienced. At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, we’ve been handling cases similar to yours for decades. We can help you evaluate your options under the law and fight to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Our employment discrimination attorneys in York, PA, often handle employment-related cases brought under:
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal statute that is meant to protect members of a protected class from either:
- Intentional workplace discrimination
- Actions that have a discriminatory impact
The term “protected class” includes:
- Race
- Religion
- National origin
- Color
- Sex
Title VII applies to any U.S. employer with at least 15 employees. The law itself is enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
Age discrimination is also a significant workplace problem. Under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), both employees and job applicants who are at least 40 years old cannot be demoted, paid less, or discriminated against due to their age.
The ADEA applies assuming the employee or applicant is otherwise qualified for the job.
The Americans With Disabilities Act
Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), employers cannot discriminate against employees because of the employee’s legitimate disability. Instead, employers must provide reasonable accommodation to allow the employee to continue working.
What constitutes “reasonable accommodation” can vary from situation to situation. For example, employers may be required to permit “work from home” arrangements or allow an employee to work a reduced schedule to seek medical care.
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act
Pennsylvania state law also protects workers’ rights. In fact, the Pennsylvania anti-discrimination statute is perhaps even more far-reaching than federal laws.
Under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the term “protected class” is defined more broadly so that employers are prohibited from discriminating based on:
- Race
- Familial status
- National origin
- Religious creed
- Color
- Ancestry
- Age
- Sex or sexual orientation
- Handicap or disability
Employers may also be required to allow an employee to use a support animal if necessary due to a medical condition, disability, or otherwise.
Our Lawyers Handle All Employment Discrimination Claims in York, PA
At Marzzacco Niven & Associates, our York employment discrimination lawyers can help with all types of work-related discrimination claims, including those based on:
- Age discrimination
- Race
- Gender identity and expression
- National origin
- Sex discrimination, including sexual harassment cases
- Religious beliefs
- Gender and sexual orientation
- Disability
- Veteran status or military service
- Wage and hour violations
- Whistleblower status
- Pregnancy discrimination
- Equal Pay Act violations
- Use of family and medical leave
You may deserve compensation if you have been a victim of workplace discrimination.
Two primary kinds of discrimination exist under Pennsylvania law: disparate treatment discrimination and disparate impact discrimination. Our lawyers in York handle all types of work-related discrimination claims, so if you suspect your rights are being violated, call our law firm for a free case review today.
What Constitutes Employment Discrimination in Pennsylvania?
Employment discrimination can occur under many different sets of circumstances.
You may have been a victim of workplace discrimination in any of the following situations:
- An employer refused to hire you because you are a member of a protected class
- An employer mandates a dress code that has the impact of discriminating against members of a certain religious creed
- You were wrongfully terminated due to age, race, or membership in a protected class
- Your employer paid unequal wages to employees with similar qualifications due to membership in a protected class
- You were terminated for complaining about sexual harassment or reporting discriminatory acts
- You were harassed due to your membership in a protected class
- Your supervisor or co-workers created intolerable working conditions and forced you to quit
- You were denied a raise, promotion, or work opportunity due to your membership in a protected class
- Your employer or supervisor made work assignments that negatively impacted a protected group while favoring similarly qualified employees
- Your employer refused to provide reasonable accommodation for you to continue working despite your disability
Not all acts of discrimination are intentional and direct. Employers can also be liable for disparate impact discrimination. This type of discrimination tends to be unintentional and occurs when certain workplace actions, policies, and procedures have a disproportionately negative impact on members of a protected class.
Disparate impact discrimination may or may not be illegal. For example, certain policies may be acceptable if the employer has a legitimate reason for using them.
What Types of Compensation Are Available to Victims of Employment Discrimination in York, PA?
There are many different types of damages that may be available under state and federal employment laws, including:
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- The costs associated with finding a new job
- Medical bills
- Reinstatement in cases involving demotion or wrongful termination
- Compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, depression, and other mental health disorders
- The cost of retaining expert witnesses, if needed
- Attorneys’ fees and court costs
Regardless of the harm you have suffered, you can count on our lawyers to fight for justice. To get started, call our law firm in York to learn more.
How Do I Establish Liability for Employment Discrimination in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania?
The types of evidence you will need to prove your case will vary based on whether your claim involves intentional discrimination or disparate impact discrimination.
In facts involving intentional discrimination, you must establish the following elements:
- You are a member of a protected class
- The employer or supervisor knew you were a member of a protected class
- The types of harm, or damages, you suffered
- Similarly situated employees who were not members of the protected class did not suffer the same types of damages
If your case involved disparate impact discrimination, you must generally establish the following things:
- An employment practice or policy existed
- That policy caused people in a protected class to be treated worse than members of other non-protected groups
- No legitimate business purpose for the employment policy or practice existed
- The same business goals could not have been established using a non-discriminatory practice
These cases can be difficult to prove. Our lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates will investigate to locate the evidence you need to prove your case. We’ll interview witnesses, review employment policies and examine your employer’s practices. Just give us a call to learn more about this practice area today.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Pennsylvania Employment Discrimination Claim?
The deadline will vary depending on the laws that apply in your case. Under Pennsylvania state law, you must file a discrimination claim within 180 days.
EEOC claims must be filed within 180 days of the date that the discriminatory act occurred.
Call an Employment Discrimination Lawyer in York, PA, for a Free Consultation Today
If you have been a victim of work-related discrimination, an employment lawyer in York, PA, can help. Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates to learn more about your legal rights today.