How is a harrassment/discrimination case handled?
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How is a harrassment/discrimination case handled?
I was recently let go from a job because I had been seen on my phone. I had a final written warning 7 months ago and was told that the warning is not considered valid. The manager that caught me has been constantly harassing me at work to the point where I did not want to be there when she was and made me feel inferior to her. I am an openly lesbian employee and to my knowledge, she does not harrass anyone else to the extent that she harrasses me. I have numerous incidents (about 15 within the past year) where this manager has harrassed me. What is the proper course of action?
Asked on December 2, 2011 under Employment Labor Law, Ohio
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
You do not mention what state you are writing from: that, however, is critical information. (You may wish to repost your question.)
Federal law does not protect sexual orientation; that is, under federal law, it would be legal to harass or discriminate against someone because she is a lesbian.
Some states, however, do make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation; for example, New Jersey does, and so, I believe, also do NY and CA. However a great many southern states do not.
If you are in a state which makes it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, you should speak with an employment law attorney to discuss your options.
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