Though we’d like to think of workplace discrimination as a thing of the past, unfortunately, this is far from true. Many people are regularly discriminated against in the workplace due to their age, disability, race, and gender. Fortunately, however, these individuals are afforded rights, both on federal and state levels, designed to protect them from discrimination. If you consider yourself a transgender individual and you were discriminated against in the workplace, you may wonder whether you will qualify for a discrimination claim. Please continue reading and reach out to a dedicated Chesterfield County employment discrimination lawyer from Passero Employment Law to learn about how transgender employees can seek recourse for discrimination in the workplace and what we can do for you. Here are some of the questions you may have:
Is discrimination against transgender employees illegal?
Yes, it is. Though discrimination based on gender has been illegal for decades, provisions specifically dealing with transgender individuals and other members of the LGBT community were signed into law back in 2020 under the Virginia Human Rights Act. Therefore, if you are discriminated against in the workplace due to your gender identity or sexual orientation, you should have a valid claim against the discriminating party.
What qualifies as workplace discrimination?
Several actions may technically qualify as workplace discrimination. Just some examples of discrimination against transgender individuals in the workplace can include the following:
- Making rude comments or “jokes,” especially persistently
- Refusing to hire you because of your gender identity
- Firing you or demoting you
- Refusing to pay transgender employees the same as other employees for the same amount of work
- Retaliating against transgender employees for reporting harassment or discrimination
If you’ve experienced any of the aforementioned, just know that Passero Employment Law is in your corner and ready to fight for the justice you deserve.
When should I speak with an attorney?
In most cases, you should report the harassment or discrimination to your company’s HR department. However, if your company doesn’t have an HR department or the HR department didn’t resolve the issue, you should do what you can to document the instance(s) of discrimination and then speak with an attorney as soon as you can.
If you fail to file your discrimination claim within the statute of limitations, you may permanently lose your right to sue. Don’t let this happen. Simply contact Passero Employment Law today so you can tell us your story and so we can get started working on your case.
