Insights

What to Do After Being Racially Discriminated Against in the Workplace

Understanding and Addressing Racial Discrimination in the Workplace

Over the years, the American workforce has become increasingly diverse, and subsequently has benefited from the experience and perspectives of a multitude of people with different life stories. Despite this progress, however, the specter of racial discrimination in the workplace can still appear. Although racial discrimination has been made explicitly illegal under various state and federal laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, both employees and employers may subtly or overtly engage in such discrimination. If you believe that you or someone you know has been discriminated against based on race, here are the steps you should take to start setting things right.

Identify and Document the Event

The first step you should take is to document the incident in which the discrimination occurred. Write down the date, time, location, participants, witnesses, and actions involved in the discriminatory event. This information will be crucial when you speak to an attorney about your case, because the attorney will then use this information to structure your complaint. Without these details, it will be more difficult to prove that you were discriminated against.

File with the EEOC

Once you have the necessary information gathered, you have the right to file charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). If you wish to remain anonymous, an individual or organization may file on your behalf. The EEOC will then contact you and your employer regarding your filing. If the EEOC determines that you were discriminated against, then it will either attempt to settle the case with your employer or take your employer to court. There are also deadlines for filing with the EEOC. You have 180 days from the date of the alleged discrimination to file charges, but this may be extended to 300 days if the discrimination is covered by local or state laws. The EEOC does not accept filings online, so you must file charges either in person or by mail. You may contact the EEOC to find the nearest field office, and the office will schedule an appointment for you to come in and discuss the alleged discrimination.

Call a New Jersey Race Discrimination Attorney for Help

Workplace race discrimination cases are often complex, requiring a victim to provide information and meet deadlines of which he or she may not be aware. This is why it is crucial that you have an experienced attorney by your side to help you through your case. If you believe that you have been a victim of race discrimination, the law firm of John J. Zidziunas & Associates has a team of New Jersey race discrimination attorneys available to confidentially review your case. For further information, Contact Us.

‍

BACK TO BLOG

News

Insights