What Constitutes Illegal Discrimination?
A person's skin color, gender, national origin, age and creed are never an acceptable cause for being fired; if this occurs, it may be wrongful termination.
Gender Discrimination
Employers are prohibited from discriminating against any employee, or applicant for employment, because of his/her sex in connection with hiring, termination, promotion, demotion, compensation, job training, job placement, discipline or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment.
Employers are further prohibited from making employment decisions based on gender stereotypes or assumptions about an individual's abilities, traits, or performance on the basis of sex.
Also see: Pregnancy Discrimination
Race / National Origin Discrimination
Race/National Origin discrimination involves receiving less favorable treatment in the workplace because of one's actual or perceived racial group, national origin or race-based personal characteristics (such as skin color or facial features). Employers are prohibited from discriminating against any employee, or applicant for employment, because of his/her race in connection with hiring, termination, promotion, demotion, compensation, job training, job placement, discipline or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment. Race discrimination may also include receiving less favorable treatment because of one's marriage or other association with an individual of a particular race or color.
The laws prohibiting race discrimination in the workplace apply regardless of whether the discrimination is directed at Whites, Blacks, Asians, Latin Americans, Native Americans, multi-racial individuals, or persons of any other race, color, or ethnicity.
Age Discrimination
Individuals who are 40 years of age or older are protected from discrimination in the workplace based on age. Employers are prohibited from discriminating against any employee, or applicant for employment, because of his/her age in connection with hiring, termination, promotion, demotion, compensation, job training, job placement, discipline or any other term, condition, or privilege of employment.
