Jersey City Discrimination

Employment Attorneys Representing Jersey City Workers

Employment discrimination may take a toll on workers in New Jersey. It includes any negative act taken in the context of employment including hiring, firing, demotion, promotion, failure to pay benefits, unequal pay, or failure to include in training programs because of a person’s Race, Religion, Gender, Nationality, Pregnancy, Criminal History, and Age, as well as Sexual Harassment. If you have been subject to harassment, discrimination and/or retaliation in the workplace, the experienced Jersey City discrimination lawyers at Phillips & Associates can help you bring a lawsuit to seek damages.

Bringing a Discrimination Claim

Both federal and state laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of Race, Religion, Gender, Nationality, Disability, Pregnancy, and Age, as well as Sexual Harassment and retaliation. Some of the federal laws that prohibit discrimination include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Many of the federal laws are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and it is necessary to file a timely charge with the EEOC before bringing a lawsuit against your employer.

The purpose of a civil discrimination lawsuit is to put you back into nearly the same position in which you would have been had you not suffered from discrimination. This is accomplished by awarding monetary damages, although the remedy depends on the discriminatory action and how it affected you. For example, remedies may include back pay and benefits, future pay and emotional distress damages if you are terminated due to your Race, Religion, Gender, Nationality, Disability, Pregnancy, and Age, as well as Sexual Harassment, or because you complained of that type of harassment

Federal Discrimination Laws Cap Damages

However, there are certain caps on damages that may be recovered in a federal lawsuit, based on how big your employer is. If your case is against an employer that has 15-100 employees, you are limited to recovering $50,000. If your case is against an employer with 101-200 employees, you are limited to recovering $100,000. If your case is against an employer with 201-500 employees, you are limited to recovering $200,000. If your case is against an employer with over 500 employees, you are limited to recovering $300,000.But our discrimination attorneys can help Jersey City residents and employees pursue the full amount of compensation under their specific circumstances.

The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination

Similarly, the New Jersey law that prohibits certain forms of discrimination is the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). It applies to smaller employers and prohibits discrimination on the basis of Race, Religion, Gender, Nationality, Disability, Pregnancy, and Age, as well as Sexual Harassment, Color or Creed, marital or family status, atypical cellular or blood traits, sex and sexual orientation, and genetic information. You may file a civil state lawsuit under the NJLAD to recover damages for discrimination based on any of these protected characteristics. If you are successful, you may be able to recover compensation for back pay, front pay, emotional distress, pain, or humiliation, as well as potential reinstatement and, in some truly egregious cases, an award of punitive damages. You must do this within two years of suffering a discriminatory act. You should consult an attorney before filing a complaint.

Discuss Your Situation with a Discrimination Lawyer in Jersey City

Jersey City is an ethnically diverse city in New Jersey. As of 2015, its population was over 260,000 residents. Jersey City and Hudson County are sometimes called New York City's Sixth Borough, due to their proximity to New York. If you believe that you have suffered from mistreatment at your job, the Jersey City discrimination attorneys at Phillips & Associates may be able to counsel you and represent you in a lawsuit for damages. Contact us at (866) 229-9441 or through our online form to set up a free consultation. Our employment lawyers help people in Passaic, Bergen, Morris, Essex, Union, Hudson, Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Burlington and Camden Counties.

Managing Partner in New Jersey - Bryan Arce