Your sexual orientation should not affect your employment, but for some Washington, D.C., employees, it can lead to issues with employers and future career opportunities. At Bernabei & Kabat, PLLC, we recognize how unfair it is to suffer from this type of employment discrimination, and we can help.
Our lawyers have decades of combined experience fighting for justice and the civil rights of various types of employees, garnering national attention and recognition of our success. Our knowledge of the law and experience in these cases allows us to take quick and effective action on your behalf. We are ready to confront illegal practices in the workplace and fight back against any type of sexual orientation discrimination or gender-based mistreatment.
Bernabei & Kabat, PLLC represents employees in Washington, D.C. who were fired, harassed, denied opportunities, paid unfairly, or retaliated against because of their sexual orientation.
Sexual orientation discrimination grows out of bias, stereotypes, or discomfort that affects how an employer or coworker views a worker’s performance or their overall fit within the workplace. It can shape decisions from the moment someone applies for a job and may show up in such contexts as hiring, training, assignments, promotions, discipline, pay, and termination. If you experienced sexual orientation discrimination at work in Washington, D.C., you may have legal options.
Some workplaces have an open problem with sexual orientation-based discrimination. In others, this type of discrimination manifests more quietly, likely showing up through unequal treatment, exclusion, or standards that are applied differently once an employer or coworker learns or assumes something about a person’s sexual orientation.
Workers don’t have to tolerate this type of treatment. Federal law bars employers from discriminating on the basis of sex, and this protection extends to sexual orientation. The EEOC confirms that Title VII protects workers from sexual orientation discrimination in employment.
Additionally, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland all have anti-discrimination laws in place that offer similar protections, which apply not only to major job decisions, but also to the day-to-day terms of employment. Workers in the District may also have protections under the D.C. Human Rights Act.
Workers also have protection from harassment that creates an unlawful work environment and from retaliation for reporting discrimination, taking part in an investigation, or opposing unlawful conduct at work. These laws give employees a path to challenge unfair treatment and seek accountability – and an experienced employment discrimination lawyer can help.
Bernabei & Kabat handles discrimination and retaliation claims for employees who were treated unfairly, harassed, fired, or punished after reporting unlawful workplace conduct.
Sexual orientation discrimination can affect a worker at nearly every stage of employment. Some cases involve an employer’s direct unlawful action, while others involve unfair treatment that builds over time and affects a worker’s pay, opportunities, or ability to do their job. The D.C.-based lawyers at the law firm of Bernabei & Kabat, PLLC, handle sexual orientation discrimination claims involving many forms of unlawful workplace conduct, including:
Not every unfair workplace problem is unlawful discrimination, but some patterns may point to a valid claim. If you believe there’s a link between your sexual orientation and how your employer or a coworker treated you, it may be worth speaking with an employment discrimination attorney. A valid claim may involve direct comments, unequal treatment, suspicious timing, different standards, or retaliation after reporting sexual orientation discrimination.
Consider whether any of the following signs apply to your situation:
If you experience discrimination at work based on your sexual orientation, take the situation seriously and don’t assume it will resolve on its own. What seems like isolated treatment at first can become part of a larger pattern, particularly when an employer ignores complaints. Start keeping records of what happened, when it happened, and who was involved. Having a record of these details can be beneficial later.
You should also speak with the employment law attorneys from the law firm of Bernabei & Kabat, PLLC, as soon as possible. An experienced lawyer can explain whether the conduct may violate the law, what evidence may help to support your claim, what legal deadlines may apply in your situation, and what options are on the table. Getting legal guidance early can also help you avoid mistakes when reporting the problem or responding to your employer.
Sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace includes any type of negative treatment on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation or the orientation of a family member. The federal, state and local laws regarding this specific type of discrimination are complex, and while you may feel like there is nothing you can do, we can help.
If you feel like you were pushed out of your job, passed over for a promotion or experienced verbal harassment because of your sexual orientation or perceived orientation, we can help. Our attorneys can advise you on the most appropriate way to proceed, whether you want to report your employer discreetly to avoid retaliatory treatment or you believe it is necessary to take legal action.
Bernabei & Kabat represents employees from its Washington, D.C. office and focuses on workplace discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower, employment agreement, and severance matters. To discuss your situation with a Washington, D.C. sexual orientation discrimination attorney, contact our law firm.
You do not have to wait for a major event or single significant instance of sexual orientation discrimination to take action. Your job and ability to work are important, and we can take steps today to protect your interests. By calling 202.745.1942 or contacting us here, you can understand the legal options available to you as a victim. We also serve Virginia and Maryland, and we take cases from across the country.
