Despite the laws enforced against workplace discrimination, a lot of employers still practice discrimination. If so, you must understand your rights under both federal and state laws. Also, it is not advisable to represent yourself in a discrimination case against your boss. You will have to stand up to a giant who has a team of legal experts who will defend them. And unless you are an attorney yourself, there is no way you can learn the law by yourself as you go. Self-representation is not a good idea because of the following reasons:
There are Laws You Cannot Ignore
A lot of state and federal laws could apply to your discrimination case. Because of these laws, you should meet deadlines for filing an administrative complaint. You need to make this filing before you can file a lawsuit. That is why you should have an employment attorney charlotte nc to help you understand which of these laws apply to your case. Also, the attorney should tell you the strict filing deadlines to meet.
You Need Someone to Assess Your Case Objectively
Employees can be unfairly treated at work but this does not automatically mean they are a victim of illegal conduct. Some business managers and supervisors can be mean or unfair but this may not be illegal. To be considered a form of discrimination, the conduct should have been done against a member of a protected class based on gender, race, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Your employer should have taken an adverse action such as demoting you, terminated you, or paid you lower wages than others based on your protected status. Your lawyer can assess whether the actions of your boss constitute discrimination.
It Is Not Easy to Collect Evidence
As a complainant, it is your responsibility to prove your claim. Unfortunately, your employer may not admit to engaging in this unlawful practice. Your lawyer has extensive experience in collecting evidence. They may subpoena significant documents and take witness depositions.
You Won’t Know if a Lawsuit Makes Sense
Even if you want to file a discrimination lawsuit against your employer, it may not be in your best interest. Your attorney can help you decide whether doing so makes financial sense or not. They can help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of your discrimination case, how much it will cost you to pursue a claim, and how much you can receive in a settlement or at trial.
