Work Discrimination Attorney in Jacksonville

Have you experienced discrimination at work in Jacksonville, Florida? You might feel frustrated, unsure of your rights, and worried about what to do next. An employment lawyer from Cruz Law Firm, P.A. can help you understand your legal options and take action if your employer has treated you unfairly. If you need legal guidance, contact our firm today to arrange a confidential consultation with a discrimination at work attorney.

Understanding Workplace Discrimination

Workplace discrimination occurs when an employer treats a worker unfairly because of personal characteristics such as race, sex, age, disability, or religion. Federal and state laws protect workers from this type of unfair treatment.

Work-related discrimination can occur in different ways. Some workers face direct discrimination when their employers openly mistreat them. Others experience indirect discrimination when employers enact workplace policies or practices that adversely affect certain groups more than others. Workplace harassment, which includes sexual harassment, is also a form of discrimination. Employers must take steps to prevent and address harassment and discrimination based on protected characteristics.

Employers cannot retaliate against workers who report discrimination. The law protects employees who file complaints, participate in investigations, or actively oppose discrimination in the workplace. Retaliation includes actions like firing, demoting, or reducing workers’ pay in response to their complaints.

What State and Federal Laws Protect Me from Employment Discrimination?

In Florida, workers are protected from employment discrimination by both state and federal laws. These laws prohibit employers from discriminating based on certain protected characteristics.

Federal Laws Protecting Workers from Employment Discrimination

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: This law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), and national origin. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act applies to private employers with 15 or more employees, state and local governments, and educational institutions.
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA): The ADEA protects workers 40 and older from discrimination in hiring, promotions, layoffs, and other employment decisions. It applies to employers with 20 or more employees, including federal, state, and local governments.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): The ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities. It requires employers with 15 or more employees to provide reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities unless doing so creates an undue hardship.
• The Equal Pay Act (EPA): This Act requires equal pay for men and women who perform jobs that require substantially similar skills, effort, and responsibility under similar working conditions. The EPA applies to almost all employers, including private companies and government agencies.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces these federal anti-discrimination laws.

Florida State Laws Protecting Workers from Employment Discrimination

• The Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA): The FCRA prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, or marital status. Like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, this law applies to Florida employers with 15 or more employees. It allows state-level claims to be filed with the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR). An attorney for discrimination at work issues with Cruz Law can help you demand justice.
• The Florida Whistleblower Act: The Florida Whistleblower Act protects workers from retaliation if they report or refuse to participate in an employer’s illegal activities. This includes workers who report violations to government agencies and those who report violations internally.
• The Florida Minimum Wage Act: This Act requires Florida employers to pay employees the state’s minimum wage ($13.00 per hour), which is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The Act also requires state legislators to continue raising Florida’s minimum wage each year on September 30th until it reaches $15.00 per hour on September 30, 2026.

The Florida Commission on Human Relations enforces the state Civil Rights Act and investigates employment discrimination claims in Florida.

Types of Employment & Workplace Discrimination Cases

Employment discrimination cases involve different types of unfair treatment based on protected characteristics. Workers can face discrimination in hiring, promotions, pay, job assignments, or termination. Some discrimination cases involve harassment or retaliation after an employee reports unfair treatment. Discrimination can be obvious, such as when an employer refuses to hire someone because of their race, or more subtle, such as when a policy disadvantages a certain group. Below are examples of common types of employment discrimination cases.

Racial Discrimination

Racial discrimination may involve an employer refusing to hire a qualified candidate because of their race and hiring a less-qualified applicant of a different race instead. Sometimes, a company might follow an unwritten policy that discourages hiring people of specific racial backgrounds, even when those candidates meet all job requirements.

Age Discrimination

Age discrimination might involve a company laying off older employees while keeping younger workers in similar roles. It could also involve an employer refusing to hire qualified applicants over a certain age, even when they meet all job requirements.

Disability Discrimination

Disability discrimination may entail an employer refusing to provide reasonable accommodations for an employee with a disability, even when the requested changes would not create undue hardship. It could also involve a company pressuring an employee to quit after learning about their disability.

Pregnancy Discrimination

Pregnancy discrimination might involve an employer reducing a pregnant worker’s hours or reassigning them to less favorable tasks without a valid reason. It could also appear as a company pressuring an employee to take unpaid leave earlier than necessary, even when the employee can still perform their job duties.

Retaliation for Reporting Discrimination

Retaliation might look like an employer punishing a worker after they report discrimination or participate in an investigation. It could involve reducing their hours, giving them poor performance reviews without justification, or removing them from important projects.

Take Action Today – Contact Cruz Law Firm, P.A.

If you have experienced workplace discrimination, you should explore your rights and legal options with a knowledgeable work discrimination attorney. The attorneys at Cruz Law Firm, P.A. have over 20 years of experience and have recovered more than $15 million in compensation for clients like you. We can guide you through the legal process and build a strong case on your behalf. Here’s what one client had to say about their experience with us:

“Tiffany is a person you want at your table. She is shrewd and a well-trained litigator. My case set a precedent because of her persistence. Tiffany is truly the advocate you want.”
– Jacquelyn S.

Do not wait to get the legal support you need. Contact Cruz Law Firm, P.A. today to arrange your initial consultation with a Jacksonville discrimination at work attorney.