Protecting Employees From Harassment and Discrimination

Cincinnati and Dayton lawyers who hold employers accountable

Some people still hold biases against others based on race, gender identity or other characteristics. When those biases are brought into the workplace, employees can be subject to unlawful harassment or discrimination. If you have been subjected to this type of mistreatment, you don’t have to put up with it.

The Dayton harassment and discrimination attorneys at Gibson Law, LLC fight for the rights of mistreated workers. We used to defend employers against these types of claims and know how they try to avoid responsibility. Now, we put our experience and extensive knowledge of state and federal law to work for you.

Harassment and discrimination can be extremely damaging. Employees may be paid less or passed over for promotion. They may be unfairly disciplined or subjected to a hostile work environment. Workplace harassment and discrimination is against the law. Our firm holds employers accountable.

What type of behavior is considered workplace harassment?

At some workplaces, employees have to put up with unpleasant co-workers or bosses. But rude behavior is not legally considered harassment. Such behavior specifically becomes harassment when the mistreatment is specifically because of a characteristic that is protected under the law. Protected classes include:

• Race
• Ethnicity
• Color
• National origin
• Sex or sexual identity
• Religion
• Age (over 40)
• Disability
• Whistleblowers

Workplace harassment can take many forms. It can include offensive remarks or jokes, repeating stereotypes, sending offensive message or emails or posting offensive pictures or drawings. Sexual harassment can include making offensive jokes, leering in a sexually suggestive way or requesting sexual favors.

What are some examples of workplace discrimination?

Though many advances have been made, discrimination in the workplace still exists. Some people’s biases and misconceptions about certain races, religions, genders, ethnicities, disabilities and age continue to impact their employment decisions. They not only impact hiring and firing decisions but also create disparities in deciding promotions, pay, discipline, performance reviews and more.

Federal and Ohio law protects employees from biases and misconceptions by making it unlawful to discriminate against employees based upon certain protected traits. The law holds employers legally liable for making employment decisions based on a wide variety of characteristics, from a person’s color to genetic information. Some discriminatory behaviors employees might experience include:

• Hiring decisions based on age.
• Unfavorable treatment based on a physical or mental disability.
• Inappropriate workplace jokes about an individual’s national origin, race or religion.
• Reduced advancement opportunities because a woman is pregnant or might become pregnant.
• Employment decision based on gender stereotypes.

Many of these forms of discrimination can be subtle. Often, individuals who have suffered such behaviors worry that reporting them could result in retaliation. Fortunately, employees have certain rights and protections under the law as well as legal options available to them.

How can a lawyer help me?

Workplace discrimination and harassment can both be difficult to prove. Co-workers and supervisors may deny doing anything wrong. Employers may completely ignore the problem and fail to take action, even if you report it. That’s why you need an experienced attorney who knows how to build strong cases employers have to take seriously.

Attorney Angela J. Gibson knows the federal and state laws that protect people from workplace harassment and discrimination. She is also familiar with how employers respond to these types of cases. That’s because she used to represent employers against these types of claims. She knows what it takes to build a case that gets their attention.

Our firm can investigate your case to get the facts. We know where to look for evidence. We carefully review all documentation related to your case, including company records. We can identity and interview witnesses. Most important, we can demand justice for the way you have been mistreated.

If you have been subjected to workplace harassment or discrimination, it’s important to get trusted legal advice from an experienced Cincinnati attorney. State and federal laws are complicated and the statute of limitations (deadline) for taking legal action in Ohio is two years. Over time, evidence can be lost or destroyed, and the memories of witnesses can fade.

Learn more about how we can help. Schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team at our Cincinnati or Dayton office. Simply contact us to set up a time that works for you. We’ll review the details of your case, go over your legal options and answer any questions that you have.