Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, creed, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, national origin or disability in the workplace and other areas. Victims of domestic violence, stalking or sexual assault may be overlooked when it comes to being protected under Title VII though.
It’s a violation of Title VII for employers discriminate against those in the workplace based upon gender biases. This same law also forbids an employer from terminating an employee after learning that they were a victim of domestic violence or how they secured a restraining order against their partner as well.
Title VII also makes it unlawful for any employer or employee to engage in sexual harassment in the workplace. If an employee informs their supervisor that they were sexually harassed and their employer doesn’t take any action or fires them as the reporter, then this also would violate Title VII. Any employee that is demoted or reassigned after reporting that they were raped by a supervisor may also have violated Title VII.
It’s common for victims of domestic violence to become physically disabled or emotionally scarred. If an employer refuses to give an employee time off from work to get counseling, then they may have also violated the law. If a worker has become physically scarred and is fired because of their disfigurement, then that individual may have a valid claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
If you have been fired, demoted or have lost pay due to sex-based discrimination in your Charleston workplace, then you may be entitled to monetary compensation. An attorney can help you determine if you’ve been treated unlawfully, explain to you what your rights are and advise you about how to file a claim against your employer here in West Virginia.
