Long Island Employment Discrimination
There are many different forms that employment discrimination can take, and it is critical for workers to understand their rights under The New York State Human Rights Law and under various federal laws. The employer discrimination attorneys in Long Island offices of Ricotta & Marks, P.C. are committed to representing employees in a wide variety of workplace discrimination cases. We know that discrimination of any type in the workplace can be devastating for the employee who is the target of that discrimination, yet we also know that employment discrimination can be demoralizing for other employees who know about it or face retaliation after participating in investigations or other complaint practices.
Employment discrimination is unlawful in any aspect of employment on Long Island, including hiring, promoting, and terminating workers.
If you have questions about filing a workplace discrimination claim, or if you need assistance determining whether the behavior or actions you have encountered in your workplace amount to unlawful discrimination, one of the dedicated Long Island employment discrimination attorneys at our firm can assist you.
Our Employer Discrimination Attorneys in Long Island Handle a Wide Variety of Claims
At Ricotta & Marks, P.C., we routinely assist employees with a wide variety of workplace discrimination cases, including but not limited to the following:
- Race discrimination;
- National origin discrimination;
- Sex discrimination;
- Sexual harassment;
- Gender discrimination or gender identity discrimination;
- Sexual orientation discrimination;
- Pregnancy discrimination;
- FMLA violations;
- Religious discrimination;
- Discrimination on the basis of a person’s genetic information;
- Age discrimination;
- Marital status discrimination;
- Disability discrimination; and
- Criminal record discrimination.
Wrongful Termination
Wrongful termination may occur as a result of discrimination. If you believe you were terminated from your job for a discriminatory reason, it is critical to seek advice from a workplace discrimination lawyer in Long Island.
Discrimination on the Basis of Race, National Origin, Sex, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Religion, Pregnancy, and Genetic Information
Both federal law and New York state law provide protections against discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, sex, religion, pregnancy, and genetic information. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the relevant federal law concerning these forms of discrimination. The New York State Human Rights Law provides broader protections than federal law, expressly prohibiting workplace discrimination on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. It is also important to know that sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination under state and federal law. As such, both quid pro quo and hostile work environment sexual harassment are prohibited in the Long Island workplace.
Federal and state law also protects against retaliation for exercising your rights under these laws. If your employer takes any adverse action against you for filing a claim, participating in an investigation, or being involved in any way in the discrimination complaint process, you may be able to file a claim. Retaliation can include termination, demotion, being denied certain benefits or options, and any other adverse action.
Age Discrimination & Disability Discrimination
It is unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of age. Under New York state law and the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), employers cannot refuse to hire a person because they are aged 40 or older, advertise a job only to employees of a certain age, or terminate an employee if the employer thinks the worker has gotten too old, or that a younger worker could do a better job. Similar to other workplace discrimination protections, employers are also prohibited from retaliating against an employee who exercises his or her rights against age discrimination in a Long Island workplace.
It is unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis of their disability. Both New York State law and Title I of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibit discrimination due to a disability. Disabilities can take many different forms, as can disability-related discrimination. Some disabilities are bodily or physical in nature, while other disabilities may be “invisible” disabilities that affect a person’s emotional or psychological health.
Disability law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with documented disabilities, and it prohibits an employer from using a person’s disability in making decisions about hiring, firing, promotion, or other workplace actions.
Contact the Employment Discrimination Attorneys in our Long Island Offices for Assistance
If you have faced workplace discrimination on Long Island, or if you need help filing a claim under state or federal law, an experienced and aggressive Long Island employment discrimination attorneys can begin working with you on the claims process today. We can help you to determine whether you should file your claim under state or federal law, and we will represent your interests every step of the way. Contact Ricotta & Marks, P.C. for assistance with your case. You can reach us online or by calling 347-464-8694.