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Rochester Workplace Discrimination Lawyer

If you feel you’ve been kept from achieving all you’re capable of in the workplace due to your own immutable characteristics such as your race, age, gender, or sexual orientation then you’re the victim of workplace discrimination and need a Rochester workplace discrimination lawyer.

Not only is such discrimination frustrating and deeply wrong on the part of your employer, but it’s also illegal. Both federal and state laws exist to protect employees against such discrimination in the workplace.

If you find that you’ve been passed over for promotion or endured other unfair treatment in the workplace that’s unrelated to your job performance, the skilled team of employment law attorneys at Rochester’s law firm of Gattuso & Ciotoli are ready to fight tirelessly at your side to give you the best possible legal protection under the law. We aim to achieve a fair resolution, a settlement, or courtroom litigation for all workplace discrimination cases. We provide services throughout Central New York and all of New York State. Contact our firm today to take the first step toward the justice you deserve.

Understanding the Civil Rights Act and Workplace Discrimination

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a benchmark for protection against discrimination based on race, gender, religion, and nationality. Still, it remained difficult to successfully prosecute these cases for decades due to deeply entrenched cultural biases in workplaces and elsewhere in society. A 2022 survey reveals that 46 percent of Americans believe that discrimination remains a problem in their workplaces.

It is possible for an individual to face one or multiple forms of discrimination, and all such incidents are unacceptable in any work environment in the United States. However, many people who experience this at work are unaware of the full breadth of the legal protections that apply to them. Both state and federal laws prohibit workplace discrimination based on the following:

  • Race or skin color
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Gender identity or transgender status
  • age
  • Disability
  • Pregnancy
  • National origin
  • Military duty status
  • Caregiver or parenting status

While it’s certainly legal to decide on promotions, pay raises, and other workplace advances based on accomplishment, reliability, talent, ability, and even employer preference, it is not legal to discriminate in the workplace on any of the above employee characteristics.

Some employers may attempt to disguise their discriminatory business decisions in these ways, claiming that certain other employees are simply more qualified to receive promotions or that they have worked harder to receive larger raises. However, when discriminatory patterns emerge, those negatively affected need to know their rights and what they can do about this unfair treatment.

The reality is that you could face discrimination in various ways in any workplace. Rochester boasts a strong high-tech manufacturing sector, a strong financial services sector, and many other industries, and it is possible for discrimination to occur in any workplace. The University of Rochester and the Rochester Medical Center are two of the biggest employers in the area, but it is possible for an employer of any size to commit unlawful workplace discrimination.

Recognizing Workplace Discrimination

At the law firm of Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, we believe that all employees deserve fair and equal treatment under the workplace discrimination laws in place for their protection. Our experienced legal team is here to represent you if you’ve experienced any of the following forms of discrimination:

  • You were not hired for a position despite being highly qualified
  • You were wrongfully terminated from a position
  • You receive less pay than other employees in the same position
  • You’ve had unequal training opportunities and work assignments
  • You’ve had unequal opportunities for advancement or promotion
  • You’ve endured unfair discipline or harassment
  • You’ve been kept segregated from coworkers

All of these workplace situations are illegal under state and federal anti-discrimination laws including the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employee Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Equal Pay Act, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.

Many people who experience workplace discrimination in Rochester do not immediately realize that they are the victims of illegal mistreatment, and some are too worried about losing their jobs to speak out. It’s generally a good idea to explore internal conflict resolution options with your employer before initiating formal legal action for discrimination. All US employers are required to have internal policies in place for resolving these situations.

When internal conflict resolution options have failed, or if you have been terminated for a discriminatory reason or forced to quit your job due to a hostile work environment, you need to speak with a Rochester workplace discrimination lawyer as quickly as possible to discuss your legal options. The right attorney can help you determine whether state and/or federal laws were broken and what type of compensation you may be eligible to claim.

Why Choose Us for Your Discrimination Case?

There are many complex legalities involved in a discrimination case, including:

  • Determining if your case is covered by state, federal, or local law
  • Understanding the proper procedures to follow in filing
  • Knowing which agency to file within New York, including the New York City Human Rights Commission, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or the New York Division of Human Rights

Your Rochester workplace discrimination lawyer at Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, can gather the evidence needed to prove the truth of your situation. When employers engage in discriminatory practices, they typically try to avoid leaving evidence. However, various types of records as well as witness testimony can be obtained to support your case.

Once you have proven that you are the victim of workplace discrimination, your legal team can help you understand the process you will need to complete in order to ensure accountability. For example, many people in these cases must file claims with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before proceeding with direct legal actions against their employers. We can guide you through the process of submitting your claim.

If the EEOC approves your complaint, they may initiate legal proceedings against your employer for you or issue you a Notice of Right to Sue that allows you to proceed with your civil lawsuit. You will need an experienced Rochester workplace discrimination lawyer on your side to resolve the initial claim filing process and pursue accountability and compensation from the defendant for you.

With the right attorney handling your case, you may be able to recover substantial compensation for your damages. It’s possible to recover compensation for your lost income, lost benefits, the cost of new job searches, transportation expenses, and your legal fees, to name a few of the economic damages you may be able to secure. You may also have grounds to claim compensation for non-economic damages, and you may also receive punitive damages.

Skilled, diligent representation by the Employment Discrimination Lawyers at Gattuso & Ciotoli is the best way to move forward with your claim. Our experienced team will help you to get the compensation settlement you deserve and, if necessary, will represent you in a lawsuit in court. Contact our legal team now if you feel you’ve been the victim of workplace discrimination.

FAQs

Q: How Do I Prove Workplace Discrimination in Rochester?

A: Proving you are the victim of workplace discrimination in Rochester requires evidence that you were treated differently from your coworkers on the basis of your immutable personal characteristics and legally protected qualities. Employers who knowingly engage in workplace discrimination are usually careful to avoid leaving paper trails, but a skilled Rochester workplace discrimination lawyer can help you obtain the evidence you need to prove the truth.

Q: What Are the Penalties for Workplace Discrimination in New York State?

A: The penalties for workplace discrimination in New York State can extend beyond the compensation the defendant will owe to the victim of their discriminatory actions. Not only may the defendant be liable for various damages, but they may also be required to pay punitive damages to the plaintiff and face fines assessed at both the state and federal levels.

Q: How Much Compensation Can I Win in a Workplace Discrimination Case?

A: The amount of compensation you can win in a workplace discrimination case will depend on several factors. You may be eligible to claim compensation for back pay and lost benefits if you lost your job or were denied a promotion due to a discriminatory reason. You may also claim compensation for emotional distress due to the mistreatment you experienced, and it is also possible to receive punitive damages at the court’s discretion.

Q: Why Do I Need to Hire a Rochester Workplace Discrimination Lawyer?

A: You need to hire a Rochester workplace discrimination lawyer to have the greatest chance of success with your case. Your attorney can gather the evidence needed to hold an employer liable and explain the state and federal laws that apply to your case. They can also accurately calculate the damages you are eligible to claim, and you are more likely to maximize your compensation with their help.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire a Rochester Workplace Discrimination Lawyer?

A: The cost to hire a Rochester workplace discrimination lawyer will be determined by the total value of your case if you choose Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, to represent you. We take cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no immediate or ongoing legal fees for our clients. Instead, we charge a percentage of the total compensation we recover for you, and only if and when we win your case. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.

The team at Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, has more than 50 years of experience fighting on behalf of victims of workplace discrimination and other employees’ rights violations in Rochester and surrounding communities of New York. If you believe your employer has violated state and/or federal anti-discrimination laws, we can help. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Rochester workplace discrimination lawyer.