Disability Discrimination Attorney In Hattiesburg
Workers with disabilities have the right to equal treatment and opportunities throughout their careers. At WaideLaw, a Hattiesburg disability discrimination lawyer can explain an employee’s rights when facing barriers, assumptions or decisions based on a disability rather than performance.
Discrimination may be recognized through denied accommodations, altered responsibilities or discipline after disclosing a medical condition. WaideLaw reviews the full circumstances, explains how federal protections apply, and discusses available options under the law.
Workers throughout Hattiesburg, from employers near Lincoln Road to offices around the Midtown district, could face barriers when asking for disability-related support. That’s where we can help.
Hire a Disability Discrimination Lawyer
WaideLaw handles disability discrimination matters with the experience of years representing Mississippi workers. Attorney Daniel Waide is the executive committee chair of the Mississippi Bar’s Employment Law Section, so the firm has a clear understanding of how these claims are evaluated. His pursuit of justice is motivated by Isaiah 1:17 and the life lessons he learned working on his family’s farm: steadiness, responsibility and integrity.
Daniel’s involvement with youth sports and community safety initiatives shows his commitment to helping Hattiesburg residents manage challenging workplace situations with confidence.
Forms of Disability Discrimination in Mississippi
Disability discrimination often emerges through patterns that become more apparent over time. Some workers find that accommodation requests are slow to process or do not receive attention. Others experience changes in duties, expectations, or evaluations after sharing a diagnosis.
These forms of mistreatment are reflected in national data, with 88,531 discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in fiscal year 2024, a 9% increase from the prior year. Mississippi workers encounter these issues across healthcare, manufacturing, education and administrative roles. WaideLaw helps employees review how decisions were made and whether those choices may conflict with federal disability protections.
What Can an Employee Do When They Encounter a Disability Barrier?
It can be important to start by collecting information that paints a clear picture of what is occurring. In most situations, the employee has begun to recognize that things have started to take longer, change or have become inconsistent before they have identified a trend or have a clear picture of what is occurring. Documenting the information creates a more solid foundation upon which to assess next steps. Consider:
- Saving emails and written accommodation requests
- Retaining performance evaluations that demonstrate prior expectations before the change
- Taking note of when tasks, schedules or evaluations have changed
- Documents can assist in determining whether a disability has been an improper factor in the situation. WaideLaw uses this information to assist employees in determining what steps are available under federal law.
Retaliation Can Become a Concern in Disability Situations
After an employee makes an accommodation request or files a complaint about unequal treatment, it is possible that the employee will experience pressure or discipline. This can sometimes start slowly, but once an employee has voiced a concern, it can quickly snowball.
In FY 2024, the EEOC received 42,301 retaliation charges, marking the 17th straight year that retaliation has been the most frequently alleged basis of a charge. This is an issue that many Mississippi employees face when they ask for an accommodation or support and then find that they are subject to unfair evaluations or changed expectations.
WaideLaw can assist by looking at the timing, communications and decision-making process for signs that retaliation may have played a part in the employer’s actions.
FAQs
What Constitutes Disability Discrimination at Work?
Treating a worker unfairly because of a physical or mental impairment or denial of reasonable accommodations under federal law could be disability discrimination. This includes denying supports that would let an employee do the essential aspects of their work, changing expectations after a disclosure or disciplining a worker instead of helping with an accommodation need. An attorney can assess the circumstances to see if the employer made legal decisions.
How Do Reasonable Accommodations Work Under Federal Law?
Reasonable accommodations include steps or changes in support that allow an employee to perform the essential tasks of their job. This could be a modified schedule, equipment change or temporary assignment adjustment.
Employers must review requests for accommodations unless the action would be an undue hardship for the company. Documenting the request and responses is important for workers. A lawyer can review how an employer responded to a request and see if there were any violations of federal law.
Can I Be Fired After Requesting an Accommodation?
Requesting an accommodation is a protected activity, so an employer cannot fire someone for that action. Employees may face termination for different reasons, yet the context of dismissal and the accompanying explanations or treatment changes can raise additional concerns.
Retaining documentation of the request, any evaluations and contact that references the need is important for later review. A lawyer can look at these details and advise on whether the firing may be a violation of federal disability protections.
How Can a Hattiesburg Disability Discrimination Lawyer Help Me?
A Hattiesburg disability discrimination attorney can go through the employer’s responses to accommodation requests, performance evaluations and job duties after a disclosure. Legal advice may help to connect the timeline and see if federal protections could have been broken. WaideLaw can give steady direction based on knowledge of Mississippi workplaces and help employees understand their rights and potential options for the situation.
Contact a Hattiesburg Disability Discrimination Lawyer
Disability discrimination can impact all areas of your employment, including job duties, advancement and job security. In Mississippi, you should be treated with respect, provided with reasonable accommodations and not be punished for a medical condition.
If your schedule, job duties or performance reviews change for the worse after you disclose your condition, you may question your employer’s motives and need to know whether those actions are allowed by federal law. Emails, accommodation requests, performance documentation and a timeline of events may show a pattern of behavior that is illegal.
WaideLaw helps employees sort through the details, recognize when an employer has crossed the line and decide whether to take legal action. Daniel Waide’s integrity-based philosophy offers a sense of calm in a confusing time.
If you feel that your disability was improperly considered in a decision that affected you, a consultation can help you understand your options. Book a consultation now to hire a disability discrimination lawyer. We can help you find clarity and a path forward.
