Dallas Hostile Work Environment Lawyers. Houston Harassment Attorneys.
When employees experience discrimination in the workplace due to race, gender, age, or disability, a hostile work environment can be obvious. For those reporting harassment or whistleblowers, a hostile workplace can take more subtle forms, such as a workload increase, getting passed over for promotion or raises, and demotion or transfer that limits opportunity.
If you believe you may be the victim of a hostile work environment, you have rights. The experienced Texas employment law attorneys at Loya Law in Dallas protect employees from unfair treatment on the job. You have options. Talk to us before you take action.
Before you suffer further, or are forced to quit, you should know that protection from workplace abuse exists under federal employment laws protecting employees from harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination:
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – Prohibits employers from discriminating against otherwise qualified employees based on a disability. Employers may be required to provide existing, reasonable accommodations allowing disabled workers to complete job functions.
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) – Prohibits employers from discriminating against employees age 40 or older, including forcing older employees into retirement or using age to demote, cut benefits or deny promotions and raises.
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act – Protects all employees from discrimination based on race, color, national origin, gender, or religion.
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) – Sets employment standards for minimum wage, overtime pay, record-keeping requirements, and child labor laws.
- Equal Pay Act (EPA) – Prohibits compensation discrimination based on gender, for employees who complete equal work requiring the same skill, effort, responsibility, and similar working conditions within the same company.
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) – Requires employers to provide 12 weeks of unpaid time off within a 12 month period, for certain medical and family reasons including adoption, birth of a child, caring for a foster child or seriously ill loved ones.
- Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) – Sets minimum standards for employers who provide health, retirement, disability, life insurance and other benefits to their employees, involving administration, reporting requirements, fiduciary responsibilities and other compliance requirements. Employees also have important COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) rights under ERISA.
- Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) – Places restrictions on an employer’s ability to request copies of an employee’s or job applicant’s credit report from a credit reporting agency, including the requirement of requesting and receiving employee permission prior to making requests.
You also may be entitled to additional protection in a hostile work environment or other employment law claims under state and local laws:
- Texas Labor Code – The State of Texas has enacted its own employment laws designed to protect Texas workers against unfair treatment by employers throughout the state, including wage claims under the Texas Payday Act.
- Texas Commission on Human Rights Act (TCHRA) – Codified under the Texas Labor Code, it prohibits discrimination due to race, gender, disability, religion, national origin, or age.
Anyone denied their rights under any one of these important state and federal employment laws may pursue various forms of relief, including civil lawsuits. Learn more about your employee rights and representation by a skilled attorney today.
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No one should have to suffer in a hostile work environment, or put up with unfair termination. You deserve the same opportunity as others, to do your job in a safe, comfortable and fair workplace. Contact us at Loya Law in Dallas for a free initial consultation about our dedication and experience protecting employee rights.