Employment Discrimination Blog

Employment discrimination comes in many forms.  An employer could fire you or refuse to hire you for a number of illegal reasons including your race, religion, gender or age.  One type of discrimination that is rampant across the country, but, that is often overlooked, is age discrimination.  If affects a surprising number of individuals who often do not get the compensation they deserve.  A recent age discrimination case was brought against one of America’s top news networks.

George Hyatt was a cameraman for NBC News for 30 years.  In his latest position, he worked on the Daily Rundown hosted by Chuck Todd.  He was fired in 2011 and claimed that it was due to age discrimination.  Hyatt alleged that right before he was fired his manager stated to other workers that he wanted to hire younger employees.

Hyatt filed a claim with the Office of Human Rights in Washington, D.C.  This agency found for NBC.  After getting approval from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Hyatt filed a federal case in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.  NBC opposed the suit and alleged that Hyatt was let go due to poor job performance alone.  The company filed a motion to dismiss the suit pointing out that Hyatt’s employment contract barred him from bringing a discrimination action against them.  The judge refused to dismiss the case and mandated that the parties submit to mediation.

This summer, the parties came to an agreement and settled the case.  It is unclear what the terms were included in the settlement.  Hyatt had stated previously that he either wanted monetary damages or his job back.  As he is not currently employed by NBC, it is likely that he received financial compensation.

Employment discrimination can have an effect on your ability to provide for yourself and your family.  If you believe you have been discriminated against it is essential that you contact an experienced employment law attorney.  Contact Pankey & Horlock for a free case evaluation by calling (770)670-6250 today.

For a long time, there was no Federal law specifically protecting lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers from employment discrimination.  Employment discrimination attorneys have spent years trying to fight these cases by squeezing them into other categories, such as sex discrimination.  Now, in specific situations, those affected by employment discrimination based on their LGBT status will have direct recourse.  President Obama has signed an Executive Order making it illegal for the Federal government and Federal contractors to discriminate against employees based on their sexual orientation.

The President actually amended an existing Executive Order that protected the employees of Federal contractors from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.  The amendment adds sexual orientation and gender identity to this list and makes it illegal for Federal contractors to discriminate against employees for this reason.  President Obama has made it clear that he does not want government contracts to be used to discriminate against Americans in this way.  Although he did not include a new provision relating to religious exemptions, he did leave in a provision allowing Federal contractors that are affiliated with a particular religious group to prioritize who they hire based on religion.  These stipulations go into effect sometime next year.  

Also added to the Executive Order is a mandate making it illegal for the Federal government to discriminate against transgender employees.  While past case law has already outlawed this behavior, supporters of the new provision claim that it was never enforced.  This part of the law goes into effect immediately. 

Private employers are not regulated by the new law and it is not applicable to the states.  Some states have already passed legislation to this affect but approximately 32 states are still without it.

Employment discrimination is a continuing problem across the United States.  The Executive Order may make discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity a less frequent occurrence.  If you believe that you have been discriminated against for any reason, contact Pankey & Horlock for free case evaluation.  Call (770)670-6250 today.

Under both federal and state employment law, Georgia employers are not prevented from hiring or firing on the basis of sexual orientation.  Or are they?

A complaint filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Flint Dollar, a gay former music teacher, may expand the boundaries of recent case law.  Dollar had never concealed his sexual orientation from his employer, Mount de Sales Academy, a Catholic school in Macon, Georgia, and the school had not made an issue of it.  But when he announced his plans to marry his longtime partner, school officials dismissed him.  They cited no problems with his past job performance or complaints from students or parents.  

While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of "race, color, religion, sex and national origin," it has never specifically prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.  Attempts to claim that such cases are "sex" discrimination cases have rarely worked, because that prohibition has generally been held to cover only "gender" discrimination."

A recent Washington, D.C. case may have changed that, however.  In a suit against the Library of Congress, a gay plaintiff claimed that he was penalized for having a romantic interest in men, while women in the same office were not.  His lawyers argued that this disparate treatment was a form of gender discrimination.  A federal district court allowed the case to proceed, in spite of the Department of Justice's attempts to have it dismissed.

Now Dollar has filed his complaint with the EEOC alleging that firing him because of his decision to enter into a same-sex marriage is form of gender discrimination.  

While constitutional scholars continue to question whether sexual orientation falls within the scope of "sex" under Title VII, they acknowledge that the argument might work.  If successful, the Dollar case could change the legal landscape for gay victims of employment discrimination.

For over two decades, the attorneys of Pankey & Horlock, LLC have represented employees throughout Atlanta who have faced illegal discrimination in the workplace.  If you were treated unfairly during the hiring or firing process or during the course of your employment, you deserve justice and compensation for your suffering.  Contact our knowledgeable legal team to schedule your confidential free case evaluation.  Call (770)670-6250 today.

Unemployment has been an unfortunate reality in the United States since the recession hit in 2008. We often hear about how difficult it is for young people to find jobs in today’s economy. It is far less likely to hear about older individuals who are struggling to find a job. People that are out of work and over 45 are less likely to be without a job. But, once they are out of work, it becomes much harder for them, as opposed to younger people, to find a job.

It seems that one major reason for the large amount of older individuals who have been unemployed for long periods of time is age discrimination. Older people with years of experience can apply for a multitude of positions and receive no call back. They know they are qualified, the employer knows they are qualified and yet they don’t get interviewed. Potential employers can discover their approximate age by the dates listed on their resumes. Dates for things such as diplomas, job experience and achievements are dead giveaways for a person’s approximate age. This causes the biased employer to pass them over for someone younger. If the person has been out of the workforce for a long time this can be another major obstacle.

Some older unemployed individuals have turned to adjusting their resumes so that they do not reflect their age. They take out dates such as when they received their degree, earlier work experience, achievements and start and end dates at past positions. Some are even lying about dates on their resumes. Instead of stating that they received an award in one year, they choose a later year to make it seem that they are younger. They are not lying about their achievements or abilities, just about the timing. These folks are doing the same tweaking to their online profiles, such as Linkedin.com accounts.

Most of these individuals just want to get an interview. They are sick of being turned down immediately due to their age. Employers engaged in these practices are committing age discrimination even though it would be nearly impossible to prove. As a result, some older individuals are doing what they have to do to make a living. Omitting information is usually not a problem as long as it does not result in false information. The same way people don’t note on their resume’ that they struggled in position, they can omit dates and other age implying information. When this omitting turns into lying these people might run into a problem.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of age discrimination call Pankey & Horlock, LLC at (770)670-6250.

More than 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. Despite efforts on the part of lawmakers to prevent discrimination in the workplace for individuals living with this disease, several recent court cases indicate that discrimination in the hiring and firing process remains prevalent across a wide array of industries.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits an employer from discriminating against a qualified candidate due to his HIV status. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal government agency responsible for enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination, recently filed a lawsuit against Maxim Healthcare Services for refusing to hire a candidate after they learned that he was HIV positive. In the suit, the EEOC claims that the staffing service for healthcare professionals extended an offer to a qualified candidate for a position that involved sitting with patients at a local VA hospital. The offer was contingent upon the individual’s completion of a physical. The candidate underwent the examination and the health certificate clearly stated that the candidate was fit to work but it also did indicate his HIV status. The suit claims that upon reviewing the health certificate, Maxim refused to assign the candidate to the VA hospital. The EEOC is seeking an order that would prohibit Maxim from engaging in any other discriminatory hiring practices. If found to be in violation of federal law, Maxim may also be required to pay lost wages, compensatory and punitive damages, amongst other affirmative relief efforts.

Unfortunately, the Maxim case is not an isolated incident. Recent EEOC data obtained and analyzed by RH Reality Check, an online publication devoted to sexual and reproductive health and justice reporting, found that 25 cases have been filed by the EEOC over the past 10 years for discrimination on the basis of HIV and AIDS. Four of these cases are still in litigation. The report further detailed that between 1997 and 2013, the EEOC received almost 4,000 complaints from employees who had suffered discrimination based on one’s HIV or AIDS status.

For over two decades, the attorneys of Pankey & Horlock, LLC have represented employees throughout Atlanta who have faced illegal discrimination in the workplace. If you have a disability and were consequently treated unfairly during the hiring process or throughout the course of employment, you deserve justice and compensation for your suffering. Contact our knowledgeable legal team to schedule your confidential free case evaluation. Call 770-670-6250 today.

The Georgia Whistleblower Act (O.C.G.A. §45-1-4) was enacted to promote honesty and transparency in local and state government. This law protects any public employee who files a complaint or discloses any activity "constituting fraud, waste, and abuse in or relating to any state programs or operations" from retaliation. Retaliation may include suspension, demotion or a decrease in salary.

A highly publicized case decided earlier this month has placed the spotlight on this important statute and its necessity to protect public employees throughout Georgia. The lawsuit was brought by former Executive Secretary of the Georgia State Ethics Commission, Stacey Kalbermann who claimed she took a salary cut of $35,000 (roughly 1/3 of her annual salary) and had her deputy’s position eliminated after she expressed her plan to issue subpoenas in the investigation of Governor Nathan Deal's 2010 campaign. The defense argued that the Commission was facing major budget issues and the personnel cuts were necessary, and were not made in response to her investigation efforts into the gubernatorial campaign.

After just a few hours of deliberation, a Fulton County jury ruled in Kalbermann’s favor, ordering the state to pay the plaintiff 700,000 in damages for their retaliatory actions which ultimately forced her from her job. It's important to note that the $700,000 judgment does not include back pay or attorney fees which the state will likely be responsible for; the ruling may easily exceed one million dollars. Sherilyn Streicker, Kalbermann’s former deputy, who was relieved of her duties following the subpoena request, has followed a separate wrongful termination suit against the Commission.

The Whistleblower Act was developed to protect public employees who help to identify and expose unethical activities in government. Provided these activities are reported in an appropriate fashion to either a supervisor or governmental agency, these employees are protected by law. While this particular act only applies to public employees in Georgia, there are federal protections under the Occupational Safety and Health Act for employees of certain industries where the health and safety of the public may be at stake.

If you think you have been wrongfully terminated or unfairly retaliated against in your workplace, it’s important that you contact an experienced employment law firm. The attorneys of Pankey & Horlock, LLC have assisted employees in Atlanta and throughout Georgia with complex employment discrimination and wrongful termination matters. Call 770-670-6250 to schedule a consultation and learn more about your options for recovery.

Workers in Georgia's greater Atlanta area and beyond are more aware of their rights than ever before due to a variety of reasons. Not only are employees keeping updated on the laws surrounding the hiring, firing and payment of workers, but they are taking action on the perceived wrongdoings of employers by filing an increasing number of wage-and-hour and employment discrimination lawsuits than in previous years. According to the annual Workplace Class Action Litigation Report, the number of wage and hour lawsuits increased 10-percent in just one year, from 2012 to 2013, and workplace discrimination cases have been on the rise over the last couple of years as well.

Here are some facts and ideas that may account for the increase in employment law-related suits:

• It's likely that the economic recession and early recuperation period have led employers to divide work up among fewer employees, which could potentially led to increased workplace stress and lower worker morale in general- all of which may be causing employees to second-guess their employer's pay practices. Keeping informed on your employer's wage and hour policies is a smart move, particularly if you suspect that you are not being compensated appropriately.
• Federal and state wage and hour laws and regulations are complex, so an employer's honest mistake may cause workers to think they're being cheated out of pay. However, the truth behind an unintended pay or discrimination allegation doesn't always come to light before a lawsuit is filed.
• The US economy is in a better state than before, which could tempt employees and their counsel to sue emerging businesses in good financial standing.
• A rising number of lawyers are considering taking on employee discrimination and wage and hour claims because of the amplified success of these cases in the favor of the employee as of late.
• Employees workers have more access to the world around them than ever before through social media, therefore workers have the chance to learn about all of the employment law related cases in the media, which may make them more confident and willing to file a suit.

Back in 2011, the New York Times reported that accusations of workplace discrimination rose to 99,922 in one year, from 93,277 the previous year, which represents an increase of 7.2 percent- the highest level of new discrimination cases ever recorded.

If you have been wrongfully terminated or victimized by unlawful business practices, the employment discrimination and civil rights attorneys of Altanta's Pankey & Horlock, LLC will work with you to ensure that you receive fair compensation. Contact us at 770-670-6250 for guidance, or fill out this form for a free case evaluation.

 

Georgia House Bill 1023 echoes the sentiments of a bill recently passed by Arizona government that allows businesses, individuals and other entities the right to discriminate against gay people.

The bill essentially gives people and businesses the power to act on their own personal prejudices without incurring any consequences. It exempts them from any government action or legal proceeding that "directly or indirectly constrains, inhibits, curtails, or denies the exercise of religion by any person or that directly or indirectly pressures any person to engage in any action contrary to that person's exercise of religion."

Due to the broadness of the language therein, the passing of this bill could result in a variety of negative after-effects, as it would permit those who discriminate with a way to escape any legal repercussions for their actions if they can somehow relate the situation to religion.

"The Preservation of Religious Freedom Act," was introduced last week in the Georgia House. Both the house (HB 1023) and Senate version, SB 377, would affirm the “right to act or refuse to act in a manner substantially motivated by a sincerely held religious tenet or belief whether or not the exercise is compulsory or a central part or requirement of the person’s religious tenets or beliefs. Where those beliefs conflict with local, state or federal law, the government would have to prove that the law is meant to pursue a “a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.”

Georgia state law doesn't include a ban on discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. However, the city of Atlanta does have regulations which would be affected by this bill, as LGBT rights activists fear the proposed bill could essentially overwrite the existing ordinances.

The possible consequences the passing of this bill may inflict on the rights of individuals in Georgia and elsewhere scares associations like The Anti-Defamation League. Among their concerns: "it would allow law enforcement to refuse assignments that they find religiously offensive such as assisting or guarding a religious institution of a different faith, a pharmacy that sells prescription contraception, a liquor store, a butcher shop selling pork or beef,  or a casino"

Another concern: "It would allow public hospital employees including physicians, nurses, or administrators to refuse to assist patients, even on an emergency basis, or process any paper work that they find to be religiously offensive such as in-vitro fertilization, blood transfusions or psychiatric care."

Lastly, "It would allow any public employee adhering to an extremist religion, including Nation of Islam, Christian Identity, or Odinism to refuse providing service to an Asian, White, Black, Jewish or Hispanic person."

This month, an out of state company paid $135,000 to a customer service representative of its telemarketing unit in Kennesaw, Ga, to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The company has denied any wrong doing while agreeing to the consent decree that also expects them to implement equal employment opportunity training and report and post anti-discriminatory notices.

The case was filed by an employee who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression. She went on leave and wanted to extend her leave for additional treatment. Instead of being granted leave, she was fired.
This employee filed a suit against the company based on the Americans with Disabilities Act that states that employees cannot be discriminated against because of physical or mental disabilities. In such cases the onus is on the employer to make reasonable accommodations to enable the employee to carry out their functional duties. Such accommodations can include restructuring jobs, reassigning tasks, providing access facilities, modifying schedules, and redesigning tests.

In this case, the employer was unwilling to modify schedules to accommodate the employee’s need for additional leave.

Employment discrimination based on age, gender, or disabilities is prohibited in Georgia as well as under federal laws. In the state, such discrimination is covered by the Georgia Equal Employment for People with Disabilities Code and other related laws. While the federal law against discrimination of people with disabilities is part of the American with Disabilities Act, the actual enforcement authority is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The Act clearly forbids discrimination on the basis of disabilities. However, there are certain phrases that provide scope for interpretation. For instance, the act mentions major life functions and major bodily functions. As such while a blind person is clearly disabled since they cannot perform a major life function – seeing, someone with partial vision problems will need legal help proving that they have a disability. The law requires that the disability “substantially limits” bodily functions such as digestion, immune system, the brain, and so on.

Someone’s eyes do not fall underneath these categories. The law against employment discrimination because of disability covers not just termination of employment but also wage discrimination, discrimination at the recruitment stage, and refusal to make reasonable accommodations. If someone is willing to complete the work at their home but cannot and perhaps should not be in the work place all day long as the rest of the employees are, they should be allowed to perform or given a home based opportunity if they want it.

If the work standards and productivity is maintained, an employer does not have too much to lose and the person with the disability can still be a productive member of society. It seems the Company is an ideal example here.

When a person feels that they have been discriminated against by their employer because of their disability, they should consult a disability lawyer to ensure that their rights are protected.

 

A recent article published by the Atlanta Journal Constitution reveals the alarming rate at which workplace discrimination and sexual harassment claims are dismissed by Georgia courts. According to research of cases filed in 2011 and 2012, close to 80 percent of cases in the Atlanta area were dismissed prior to trial, a steep increase from the already too-high nationwide dismissal rate of 70 percent. Most of these cases fail under Georgia’s summary judgment rules, which require a court to dismiss a case if the case lacks a genuine dispute of a material fact. This common problem plagues employment discrimination cases as they are notoriously difficult to prove.

Possible Reasons for Dismissal Rates in GA

There are a number of possible explanations for the high dismissal rates, namely the aforementioned issue of lack of evidence. In order to prevail in a Georgia employment discrimination case, your attorney must prove that you were terminated, demoted or otherwise treated negatively in the workplace based on one of the protected classes – which include race, national origin, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, color, religion or history of bankruptcy. As Georgia is an employment at-will state, an employer can rebut a discrimination claim by asserting the negative employment decision was made for any other non-discriminatory reason, or no reason at all. By working with an experienced discrimination attorney, you stand a better chance of gathering the evidence you need to advance your claim of discrimination, even if the claim itself proves to be an uphill battle.

While many proponents of anti-discrimination in the workplace criticize the Atlanta court system for its seemingly apathetic approach to discrimination lawsuits, attorneys familiar with employer defense herald the statistics as an appropriate measure of the sheer volume of frivolous lawsuits passing through the federal and state systems. However, it is difficult to conceive how a case can be truly deemed meritless prior to its being heard before a judge a jury.

Contact a reputable and experienced Georgia employment discrimination attorney today

We are dedicated to helping our clients seek justice against their discriminatory employers. We urge you not to be dissuaded by these statistics and encourage you to speak to one of our lawyers today. 

As an employee in the Georgia workforce, you are protected by certain state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination. If you believe you are being subjected to unfair and unlawful treatment at your job, you have a number of legal options against your employer – all of which offer you additional protection against retaliation by your boss. If you decide to pursue a complaint, you will in most cases launch your initial complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. From there, you can pursue a private lawsuit under Georgia and federal law with the help of an employment discrimination attorney.

Georgia’s Prohibitions Against Workplace Discrimination

To prevail in a discrimination action, you must belong to a protected category of people. The following lists the protected categories under Georgia law, which borrows many of its protections from federal laws. An employment discrimination suit may be based on any of the following:

• Age: It is unlawful to discriminate against any worker aged 40 years or older. Georgia laws impose possible misdemeanor criminal charges against any employer discriminating against workers between ages 40 and 70.

 

• Bankruptcy: An employer may not make a detrimental employment decision against any worker based on that worker’s decision to file bankruptcy.

 

• Disability: Disability laws are covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Georgia Equal Employment for People with Disabilities Code. An employer is required to make a reasonable accommodation for a disabled individual, unless the proposed accommodation would cause the employer extreme expense or difficulty.

 

• Equal Pay: An employer must pay men and women equally who are performing the same job.

 

• Pregnancy: Employers are forbidden from discriminating against a woman based on childbirth, pregnancy and related medical conditions.

 

• Race, Color, Religion, Sex or National Origin: Federal law has long-held it unlawful to discriminate against any worker based on these factors. These laws are based on the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

 

Harassment in the Workplace in Georgia

Harassment in the workplace is an intolerable violation of your rights as an employee. Federal and Georgia laws prohibit any unwelcome conduct “based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.” The conduct must be continuous in nature and severe enough to cause a reasonable person distress and discomfort. This type of conduct could include offensive jokes, emails, name calling, assaults, threats of violence, intimidation, ridicule or offensive objects and pictures.

 

Wrongful Termination in Georgia

If you find yourself out of a job and believe it is based on any of the above-listed characteristics, you may have a cause of action for wrongful termination. Keep in mind, however, that Georgia is an employment-at-will state. This means that an employer can fire you for any reason or no reason at all – provided the reason is not discriminatory in nature.

If you are experiencing wrongful conduct at your workplace, or were recently fired for possible discriminatory reasons, contact a GA employment discrimination attorney for consultation today.