New York City Employment Discrimination Attorneys
Each year, tens of thousands of discrimination and harassment lawsuits are filed across the country. In recent years, the #MeToo movement has also shed light on the systemic abuses that pervade employer-employee relations. However, despite the knowledge of these injustices, employment discrimination continues to occur, especially in New York City.
To allege a claim of workplace discrimination, you must be a member of a protected class and suffer an adverse employment action as a result of that membership. Understanding which classes are protected, such as race, gender, age, or disability, is crucial for identifying unjust actions in the workplace.
At Brown Kwon & Lam, we know how difficult these cases can be. If you are a victim of employment discrimination, you deserve justice, and our attorneys for work discrimination are here to help.
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Types Of Employment Discrimination In New York City
Sexual Harassment
Workplace sexual harassment includes unwelcome sexual advances, offensive comments, inappropriate touching, or conduct based on gender. Harassment may come from supervisors, coworkers, or clients and can create a hostile work environment that affects your well-being and career. These situations are not always easy to evaluate, especially when employers dismiss the behavior as harmless. Our New York City employment discrimination attorneys can help you understand your rights and potential legal options.
Contact our NYC discrimination attorney to get started on your case.
Age Discrimination
Age discrimination occurs when an employer treats a worker unfairly because of age, often impacting employees over 40. This may involve being denied promotions, excluded from opportunities, pressured to retire, or subjected to age-related remarks. Discrimination can affect hiring, discipline, compensation, and termination decisions. If you believe your age influenced how you were treated in the workplace, our New York discrimination lawyers can help you evaluate your potential claims and legal protections.
Gender & Sex Discrimination
Gender and sex discrimination occur when employees are treated unfairly because of sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Unequal pay, denial of promotions, exclusion from opportunities, or discriminatory workplace policies may all support a claim. In many cases, discrimination is subtle rather than obvious. New York employees are protected under both state and federal law, and a discrimination attorney can help determine whether unlawful workplace treatment may have occurred.
Racial Discrimination
Employees have the right to sue their employer if they discriminate against them because of their racial background. However, filing a racial discrimination lawsuit in NYC is not easy. Ideally, you should work with an experienced discrimination lawyer in New York to protect your best interests. We will fight to seek the justice you deserve.
Religious Discrimination
Religious discrimination happens when an employer mistreats an employee because of religious beliefs, practices, or perceived religion. This may include biased hiring decisions, harassment, denial of promotions, or refusal to accommodate religious observances. Employers are generally required to provide reasonable accommodations unless doing so creates an undue hardship. If you believe you were treated unfairly because of your religion in a New York workplace, our attorneys can help explain your rights and options.
Mental Or Physical Disability
Employees with physical or mental disabilities are protected from workplace discrimination under New York and federal law. Employers may not unlawfully terminate, demote, refuse to hire, or deny reasonable accommodations because of a disability. Accommodations may include schedule adjustments, modified duties, or assistive devices. If your employer failed to accommodate your condition or treated you differently because of a disability, our New York discrimination attorneys can help you explore your legal remedies.
Pregnancy Discrimination
Pregnancy discrimination occurs when an employee is treated unfairly because of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Employers may unlawfully deny accommodations, reduce hours, refuse promotions, or make assumptions about an employee’s ability to work. New York workers may have rights to accommodations, medical leave, and protection from retaliation. If you experienced unfair treatment related to pregnancy or maternity leave, our NYC discrimination attorneys can help you understand your legal options.
Genetic Information
Genetic information discrimination occurs when an employer uses genetic testing results or family medical history to make employment decisions. Employers may not lawfully discriminate based on concerns about future medical conditions or healthcare costs. Improperly sharing genetic information may also violate federal law. Although these claims are less common, legal protections exist for affected employees. A New York employment discrimination lawyer can help you understand whether your workplace rights may have been violated.
Previous Convictions
New York law limits when employers can deny employment based solely on prior criminal convictions. Certain arrests that did not lead to convictions, youthful offender adjudications, and protected records may not legally be used against applicants or employees. Employers must also follow specific procedures before taking adverse action based on criminal history. If a past conviction unfairly affected your employment opportunities in New York City, our discrimination attorneys can discuss your rights and potential remedies.
Subtle Signs Of Discrimination In The Workplace
Whether or not discrimination is occurring is not always obvious. This could leave you questioning whether you or other employees are experiencing it. Discrimination, even in subtle forms, is upsetting to experience and can negatively impact a person’s mental health, well-being, and career. Discrimination at work is illegal and should never be tolerated.
Here are a few subtle signs of discrimination in the workplace:
- Asking inappropriate personal questions: You expect potential employers to ask questions about you to get to know you better during the interview process. Because of this, you might not think anything is meant by personal questions other than an attempt to learn more about you. However, some questions go beyond what an employer can ask and could be considered discriminatory. This includes questions regarding your age, race, family status, and religion. Employers could use information like this to discriminate against you. Questions like these are not always malicious, but they should not be overlooked. Staying informed about interview rights can help you identify and respond to these inappropriate inquiries.
- Lack of diversity: If you look around a company, you might notice that many employees are all of the same race, gender, age group, or another characteristic. This can sometimes be a sign of a workplace with discriminatory practices, even if they do not explicitly say who they do and do not accept. Who is in positions of leadership can also be very telling. When leadership comprises only people in certain classes, excluding others in protected classes, it could be a sign that discrimination is occurring and preventing members of protected classes from rising in the company. Promoting diversity through intentional hiring and mentorship practices can counteract these tendencies.
- Gendered roles and duties: In the past, people of certain races, genders, and other groups were limited to performing specific jobs. Unfortunately, this still happens today and can affect people of all protected classes. For example, women might be expected to perform secretarial and administrative duties, even if their qualifications are higher than this type of work. Employees who belong to protected classes may be required to perform duties below what they are qualified for, tasked with work that could be seen as degrading or humiliating, or given a large or difficult workload beyond their capabilities that can cause them to fail.
- Offensive comments, jokes, and other forms of communication: Some may have experienced “jokes” or comments pointed at stereotypes of a protected class that they or another coworker belongs to while at work. These may be passed off as lighthearted humor that was not meant to offend, but this can sometimes be classified as discrimination. Some employees might also notice that the tone their coworkers or supervisors use with them may differ from how they communicate with others. For example, they may frequently speak to workers in protected classes with a hostile or demeaning tone, while others do not receive this treatment. Maintaining an inclusive work environment involves adopting policies that explicitly address and penalize discriminatory language and behavior.
How Our New York City Employment Discrimination Attorneys Handle Your Case
When you reach out to Brown Kwon & Lam about discrimination at work, we know you are already under significant stress. From the first consultation, we focus on listening carefully to your story, reviewing your timeline of events, and identifying any documents or witnesses that could support your account. Because our partners stay directly involved in your matter, you can expect to speak with the lawyer who is actually evaluating your legal options and shaping the strategy for your claim in New York City or the surrounding counties.
After this initial review, we typically outline potential paths forward, such as pursuing an internal complaint, filing with the EEOC or a local agency, or preparing for litigation in the courts that serve the five boroughs. We explain how these choices may affect your job, your income, and your long-term goals, so you can decide what feels right. Throughout the process, we prioritize clear, honest communication—keeping you updated when the agency responds, when your employer takes action, or when a mediation or conference is scheduled, whether that is in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or another local venue.
As your case progresses, we gather additional evidence, prepare you for interviews or testimony, and evaluate any settlement proposals against what you have lost and what future risks remain. Because our firm regularly handles complex employment disputes, including class and collective actions, we are comfortable managing overlapping issues such as wage and hour violations or retaliation that may arise alongside your discrimination claim. Our goal is to move your case forward efficiently while remaining accessible to answer questions, adjust our approach if your circumstances change, and help you make informed decisions at every stage.
Identifying discrimination at work is not always simple, but even the smallest signs should not be ignored. Contact our skilled New York City employment discrimination attorneys online or call us at (212) 295-5828 for a consultation.
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EEOC Charges And New York City Procedures
Many employees are unsure where to start after experiencing workplace discrimination. In many cases, you must first file a charge with the EEOC, the New York State Division of Human Rights, or the New York City Commission on Human Rights before pursuing a lawsuit. These agencies investigate complaints, may offer mediation, and can issue a Notice of Right to Sue.
The process typically involves submitting details about the discrimination, supporting documents, and witness information. Because deadlines and filing rules can be complex, speaking with a discrimination lawyer in New York early can help protect your rights and strengthen your claim.
Workers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island may also have protections under city and state laws that are broader than federal law. An attorney from Brown Kwon & Lam can help you understand your options, navigate EEOC procedures, and determine the best path forward for your case.
How To Prove Employment Discrimination In New York City
Proving employment discrimination has taken place can be difficult, but as an employee, you deserve to work in a setting where you feel comfortable and safe.
Signs of employment discrimination can include:
- Lack of diversity in the general workforce or in higher-paying positions
- Denial of promotions
- Communication that ostracizes some employees
- Failure to discipline those who are discriminatory toward employees
- Excluding applicants of certain ethnicities or racial backgrounds from the hiring process
- Firing an employee for taking maternity leave
- Refusing to let a person take leave for religious reasons
- Sexual harassment in the workplace
- Inquiring about a candidate’s age during a job interview
- Issuing employees a poor performance review after they take a disability leave
Entitled Compensation Under New York Employment Discrimination Law
If your employer is found liable for discrimination, you may be entitled to compensation for financial and personal losses, including:
- Back Pay & Front Pay: Compensation for lost wages, benefits, and future lost income caused by discriminatory actions or wrongful termination.
- Attorney Fees: In some cases, employers may be required to cover reasonable legal fees and litigation costs.
- Health Insurance Benefits: Recovery of lost healthcare coverage or related damages tied to employment discrimination.
- Retirement & Pension Benefits: Compensation for lost retirement contributions, pension benefits, or 401(k) losses.
- Unpaid Salary & Severance: Recovery of unpaid wages, final paychecks, or severance pay owed after termination.
- Unused Vacation Pay: Payment for earned but unused vacation or paid time off benefits.
- Additional Damages: Potential compensation for emotional distress, medical expenses, and costs related to finding new employment.
Get the help you need from an experienced discrimination attorney in New York. Fill out our online form without delay.
FAQs About New York Employment Discrimination Law
What Is Employment Discrimination?
Employment discrimination occurs when an employee or applicant is treated unfairly because of a protected characteristic such as race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or national origin. In New York City, workers are protected under federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. Unlawful conduct may involve hiring, firing, promotions, pay, harassment, or retaliation. Speaking with New York City employment discrimination attorneys can help you better understand your legal rights and available remedies.
How Can An Employment Discrimination Lawyer In New York Help Me?
A discrimination attorney in NYC can evaluate your situation, determine whether unlawful workplace conduct may have occurred, and explain your legal options under New York City, state, and federal law. An attorney may also help gather evidence, communicate with agencies such as the EEOC, negotiate settlements, and pursue litigation when necessary. Legal guidance can be especially important when dealing with retaliation, wrongful termination, harassment, or complex workplace discrimination claims.
What Are The Time Limits To File A Discrimination Claim?
New York employees must comply with strict deadlines when filing discrimination claims. In many cases, workers have up to 300 days to file a charge with the EEOC if federal laws apply, though state and local claims may involve different timelines. Missing these deadlines can affect your ability to recover compensation. Consulting a discrimination lawyer in New York early can help preserve evidence, protect your rights, and avoid procedural mistakes.
Can I File A Discrimination Claim Without Direct Evidence?
Yes. Direct evidence, such as emails or recordings, can strengthen a claim, but many discrimination cases rely on circumstantial evidence instead. Patterns of unfair treatment, inconsistent discipline, witness testimony, or sudden negative employment actions may help support your case. Proper documentation is often critical in proving discriminatory conduct. Experienced New York City employment discrimination lawyers can review the available facts and determine whether you may still have a viable claim without direct proof.
What Should I Do If I Face Retaliation For Reporting Discrimination?
Retaliation for reporting discrimination is illegal under New York City, state, and federal law. Retaliation may include termination, demotion, schedule changes, reduced hours, or hostile treatment after making a complaint. Employees should document incidents, save communications, and report concerns through appropriate channels when possible. Speaking with a discrimination attorney in NYC can help you understand your protections, preserve evidence, and determine the best course of action if retaliation continues.
Contact Our Employment Discrimination Lawyers In NYC
As a member of a protected class, group, or identity, you are legally entitled to a safe work environment with equal opportunities and rights. When your employer discriminates against you and prevents you from advancing in your chosen career, you deserve justice. Reinforcing relevant labor laws through employer education and promoting unbiased performance evaluation procedures helps create equitable workplace practices.
If you believe that you were a victim of employment discrimination or harassment, contact Brown Kwon & Lam to speak with skilled discrimination attorneys in NYC.