Speaking up about discrimination in the workplace isn’t easy, especially when the perpetrator is someone in a position of power. You never should have been put in a situation where you had to face discrimination at work to begin with. When you do report your experiences, you expect that your employer will take steps to help protect you from this discrimination. However, sometimes employers don’t care about this issue as much as they should, even when it violates federal, state, and local laws. So, if you’ve done what you were supposed to and reported discrimination, what should you do when your employer ignores your discrimination complaints?
The employment discrimination attorneys of Bantle & Levy can help you seek the fair treatment you deserve. Here’s what you need to do if your employer has ignored your discrimination complaints.
Document Your Complaint
If your employer has failed to do anything regarding your discrimination complaint, you want their inaction on record. If you reported the discrimination verbally, you should document your complaint in writing to show that you did report it. You don’t want to take the situation further later only to have your employer try to claim that you never reported it and they didn’t know the discrimination was occurring. This way, you can show later on that not only did you report it, but that your employer refused to help.
Keep Evidence of the Discrimination
Even if your employer hasn’t done anything to help put a stop to the discrimination, you need to hold onto any evidence of the unlawful behavior that you have. One way of doing this is by keeping a journal to document exactly when each discriminatory action happened and exactly what occurred. You may also have messages or photos that show the discrimination or know the names of coworkers who may have witnessed it.
Review Your Employer’s Discrimination Policy
Many employers have their own discrimination policies. These may state that the employer does not condone discrimination and dictate how employees should report claims of discrimination. A discrimination policy may also detail the steps that the employer will take to stop discrimination when it does occur. This can help you show that your employer has a process in place to help employees experiencing discrimination and neglected to follow it.
Contact an Employment Discrimination Attorney for Help
When your employer isn’t willing to protect you and respect your rights, you shouldn’t give up hope. This is what the employment discrimination attorneys of Bantle & Levy are here for. We understand what rights you have under federal, state, and local laws and can help determine if the actions and behaviors you’ve experienced in your workplace violate one or more of these laws. Employment discrimination cases can have many challenges, but we know what it takes to help you get the justice you deserve.
If you think you’ve been discriminated against at work for your membership in a protected class, don’t wait to get help. Bantle & Levy can provide the guidance and support you need to stand up to employment discrimination. Contact us today.