Chicago Gender Discrimination Lawyer

Gender discrimination, also known as sex discrimination, is any act of discrimination against an employee based on his or her gender. Sex is a protected class under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A few more specific types of discrimination, such as pregnancy discrimination and discrimination based on an employee’s sexual orientation, fall into this category.

When gender discrimination occurs, the victim can suffer a variety of damages. These damages can include lost wages and employment benefits from losing a job or being denied a promotion as well as the psychological trauma of facing unfair or abusive treatment in the workplace.

Examples of Gender Discrimination in the Workplace

As discussed above, gender discrimination can include many different types of mistreatment. Examples of gender discrimination in the workplace include:

• Harassment based on an individual’s gender, perceived gender, or compliance with gender norms and stereotypes;
• Denying a qualified applicant a job or a promotion because of his or her gender;
• Disciplining employees of different genders differently for the same infractions;
• Expecting employees of one gender to perform additional duties beyond those in their job descriptions, such as expecting female employees to clean up the office or male employees to handle any tasks that require physical labor;
• Segregating employees into different departments or positions because of their genders;
• Maintaining unfair dress code standards for different genders. For example, requiring female employees to wear makeup and high heels while only requiring male employees to wear professional shoes is an act of gender discrimination; and
• Denying employees of one gender the opportunity to attend conferences and specialized training to advance their careers.

Taking Action Against Gender Discrimination in your Workplace

If you faced gender discrimination in your workplace, discuss your experience with your supervisor. Be sure to document this interaction as well as any other instances of gender discrimination you face, because the notes and documents you keep can serve as evidence to support a discrimination claim later if you choose to pursue one. If your supervisor cannot resolve the issue, bring it to your company’s Human Resources department. Make sure you document this interaction as well.

When your company cannot resolve the discrimination issues you are facing, discuss your experience with an employment lawyer who can advise you on the right course of action for your case. You may file a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to pursue monetary compensation for the damages you suffered. If your claim does not yield compensation for your damages, you can file a discrimination lawsuit against your employer.

Work with an Experienced Chicago Workplace Discrimination Lawyer

When you are considering pursuing a gender discrimination claim, an experienced workplace discrimination lawyer can be your advocate. He or she can guide you through the legal process of pursuing your claim and negotiate with your employer to recover an appropriate compensation package for your damages. To get started with our firm, contact the Law Office of Mitchell A. Kline today to set up your initial consultation.

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