Fort Lauderdale Discrimination FAQ

Answers to Common Employment Law Inquiries near Fort Lauderdale

If you have faced workplace discrimination because of your gender or because of pregnancy, you are not alone. In 2019, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received 72,675 discrimination complaints. It filed 157 lawsuits against offenders for unfair or illegal treatment under federal law. The EEOC recovered more than $78 million in financial awards for claimants without going to trial, often through settlements and mediation. Even more money was recovered in litigation.

If you feel like you have been treated adversely based on your race, sex, religion or another protected factor, contact an experienced employment law attorney about your possible claim today.

Call The Amlong Firm now at (954) 953-5490 or use our online form.

Is The Amlong Firm a Diverse Law Firm?

Our lawyers and staff are as diverse as the clients we represent:

• Karen Coolman Amlong was the first woman elected to the Florida Legislature from Broward County and the first state coordinator of the Florida chapters of the National Organization for Women (NOW).
• Rani Nair Bolen, formerly a Marriott International Corp. corporate accountant, is the daughter of two Indian Ph.D. biochemists.

Our staff members include a paralegal who is a columnist covering issues faced by gay and bisexual women, a day-job IT guy whose real profession is as a musician, a single mother from Grenada and a third-degree black belt Thai kickboxer from Sri Lanka.

Frequently Asked Questions about Employment Law

Q: My boss does not allow me to express my religious beliefs. Is this illegal discrimination?

A: It is possible. Discrimination and harassment on the basis of religion are prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. So is retaliation against people who file or support complaints of religious discrimination or harassment. An employer with 15 or more employees must accommodate employees' religious beliefs unless this creates an undue hardship. An employer may not restrict religious expression more than it restricts other expressions that affect workplace efficiency in a similar manner.

Q: Who is protected from employment discrimination on the basis of disability?

A: Employment discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities is prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This restriction applies to both applicants for employment and employees. A person is considered disabled if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such disability or is regarded as having such disability. Major life activities include seeing, hearing, speaking, walking, breathing, manual tasks, learning, caring for oneself, and working.

Q: Who is a qualified individual with a disability?

A: A qualified individual with a disability is a person who possesses the skills, experience, education or other requirements for a job and can perform the essential functions of that job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the individual is qualified to perform essential job functions except for limitations set forth by the disability, the employer must consider whether the individual could perform these job functions with a reasonable accommodation.

Q: When is an employer required to make a reasonable accommodation for a disabled employee?

A: When an employee needs a reasonable accommodation for a disability, the employee should ask the employer for the accommodation. An employer is generally required to make accommodations only for disabilities it knows about. This is an informal and interactive process: The employee should tell the employer what barriers the current situation presents so that they can discuss reasonable accommodations. Accommodations must be made on an individual basis because the nature and extent of the disability will vary in each case.

Q: Does federal age discrimination law protect me if I'm younger than 40?

A: No. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protects only employees and job applicants who are 40 or older. Your state's laws, however, may supplement federal law.

Q: As an employer, what laws must I follow when hiring new employees?

A: Federal, state and even local laws may apply to you as an employer. An attorney can give you the full picture for your particular needs. A prospective employer must be careful to avoid illegal discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, pregnancy, disability or religion during the hiring process. The employer should also make sure to protect the privacy rights of each applicant by guarding confidential or private information provided by the applicant and disclosing any background or credit checks to be performed.

Q: Is there a time limit for filing a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) under Title VII?

A: Yes. Title VII imposes time limits for bringing a charge of discrimination. Usually a claim must be filed within 180 days of the alleged act of discrimination; however, some states' laws set out a time limit of 300 days. Contact the EEOC or an attorney for further information.

If you’d like to learn more about us or the services we provide, contact The Amlong Firm online.