Insights Into How Our Legal System Works

Think Your Civil Rights Have Been Violated At Work? What To Do

8 December 2016 by Yolanda Lane

Everyone should be able to work in peace alongside others; when you are the subject of workplace discrimination or feel that your civil rights have in some way been violated, you may be upset and not know what you should do next. The suggestions that follow will help you focus your efforts and seek justice for what has happened to you.

Be Sure That Your Rights Were Violated

It is important to note that just because something upsetting happened in your workplace, that doesn't necessarily mean that your rights have been violated. For example, if you've been emailing everyone religious texts, your supervisor is within rights to ask you to stop. However, if you feel that your religion is the reason that you have not been promoted or you have to endure daily intimidating remarks about it from your boss, it's possible that you have a problem that needs to be investigated further. Talking to a few lawyers can give you better clarity on this issue.

Document What Happened

It is important that you keep as many records as you can about what happened or continues to happen to you. Keep track of statements that were made, for instance. If you get threatening emails, print them out. Keep a record of how often you've attempted to rectify the situation by talking to department heads or the company's human resources department. This information could come in handy if you seek legal action later

Report it to the EEOC

While you might want to file a legal claim against your employer, most states require that you first report the situation to the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission). This federal agency with local chapters will work to investigate your claim and typically you must wait for a "right to sue" letter from the agency in order to file a claim in court. Some states also dictate that you report what has happened to at the state level, usually the Department of Employment.

Once you've gotten permission from the EEOC to move forward, it is vital that you get help from a lawyer that specializes in work discrimination or civil rights law. They will have a solid idea of what kind of settlement you can reasonably hope for and will be able to defend you against the charges that your employer may try to discredit you with.

With this information, you should be better prepared to act if you think that your civil rights have been violated at work. Communicate regularly with a good civil rights attorney who can help you take the appropriate course of action.

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