Despite U.S. federal and Pennsylvania state laws banning workplace discrimination and harassment, many employees are subjected to hostile work environments every day. Further compounding matters, employees often fail to report violations out of fear of employer retaliation. Employees who suffer from these unlawful employment practices should consider legal action and retain an experienced attorney.
HKM Employment Attorneys in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have demonstrated capabilities handling hostile work environments and workplace discrimination. A national law firm with a local focus, HKM Employment Attorneys work diligently to help employees fight back against unlawful employment practices. If you need legal help with a hostile workplace, contact us today to get started.
Applying Federal and State Laws that Prohibit Hostile Work Environments and Workplace Discrimination
From a U.S. federal standpoint, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits hostile work environments and workplace discrimination. Specifically, it is unlawful for employers to discriminate based on an employee’s membership in a protected class. Additionally, Title VII prohibits pervasive work environments that a reasonable employee would consider hostile or otherwise abusive.
From a state standpoint, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA) works in tandem with Title VII to prohibit unlawful workplace discrimination and hostile work environments. Mirroring the same protected classes as the federal act, the PHRA defines unlawful workplace discrimination for employers, employment agencies, labor organizations and similar entities. The PHRA also adopts the same standards as Title VII in defining hostile work environments. The same five-factor approach applies to both federal and state legal actions.
Pittsburgh Employment Counselors Help Protected Classes Fight Against Workplace Discrimination
Title VII, the PHRA and other laws safeguard protected classes from unlawful workplace discrimination and hostile work environments. In specific terms, it is unlawful for employers to discriminate based on certain characteristics, including age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
In order to protect employees and safeguard their federal and state rights, HKM Employment Attorneys specialize in the following types of unlawful employment discrimination:
- Age Discrimination
- Disability Discrimination
- Ethnic Discrimination
- National Origin Discrimination
- Pregnancy Discrimination
- Race Discrimination
- Religious Discrimination
- Sex Discrimination
- Sexual Orientation Discrimination
In every situation listed above, discrimination occurs in violation of Title VII and the PHRA. Any Pennsylvania employee who suffered discrimination based on his or her membership in a protected class should consider legal action against his or her employer.
Contact a Pennsylvania Employment Attorney Today
If you are an employee stuck in a hostile work environment, HKM Employment Attorneys have the skill and experience needed to protect your rights. With experience representing employees against even the most powerful employers, HKM Employment Attorneys can help fight against all types of workplace discrimination. If you need legal help in this arena, contact us today for an initial consultation.
