No one ever wishes to experience workplace discrimination, but it’s an unfortunate occurrence that continues to happen in New York and across the country. Not every employment termination means there was discrimination involved, but there are definite cases where an employer acted based on a preference of prejudice against a certain group of people protected under state and federal law.
So what can one do to file a discrimination claim? First, the New York Department of Labor website has a list of different agencies to contact based on the type of job you have and how you acquired the job.
Next, there are some basic details that need to be included in a discrimination claim. This information includes information such as the name of the company where the alleged discrimination occurred, the type of discrimination you believe occurred, the names of those involved, and an explanation of what happened. It’s important to remember that the above list is not a full list of all information that needs to be included.
When filing the claim, there is no specific form that needs to be filled out (although you may contact the Division of Equal Opportunity Development if you want a form), but the claim does have to be filed within 180 days of the alleged discrimination incident.
Because of the large amount of information that needs to be detailed in your claim, it may be wise to work with an attorney on your case. Although a variety of “representatives” may file for you, such as a union steward, a social worker, or a family member, an employment discrimination lawyer’s specific knowledge may be beneficial as the case progresses.
