Workplace Discrimination Attorney In Hattiesburg
Workplace discrimination can affect your career, your financial stability and your emotional health. Hattiesburg employees who are treated unfairly because of their race, sex, age, disability, religion or other protected status may have rights under federal law and any applicable Mississippi protections. A Hattiesburg workplace discrimination lawyer can review the facts of your situation, explain your legal rights and discuss available options for relief.
Many Hattiesburg employees face these issues at workplaces across the city, from employers near Hardy Street to offices surrounding the Southern Miss campus. Attorneys at WaideLaw provide experienced guidance to help employees understand complicated statutes and fight for fair treatment in hiring, discipline, pay, promotion and termination.
Hire a Hattiesburg Workplace Discrimination Lawyer
WaideLaw is led by attorney Daniel Waide, who has years of experience with Mississippi employment and personal injury cases. Daniel currently serves as executive committee chair of the Mississippi Bar’s Employment Law Section. He has drawn on a lifetime of advocating for vulnerable workers and a deep commitment to the call to justice in Isaiah 1:17.
Daniel was raised on a family farm, where he first learned the value of honesty and the dignity of hard work. These traits have marked Daniel’s practice with each client and in every case. Daniel is active in his community, coaching youth sports and serving on local public safety boards, which has established a solid reputation as a trusted advocate in the Hattiesburg area.
Common Forms of Workplace Discrimination in Hattiesburg
Employees in Hattiesburg can face workplace discrimination in many ways. The types of mistreatment may be subtle, systemic or overt. Mississippi is an at-will employment state, meaning employers may terminate employees for many reasons, but they cannot do so for reasons that violate federal anti-discrimination laws or other applicable protections.
Employers covered by federal anti-discrimination laws cannot fire, demote, harass or otherwise penalize a worker because of protected characteristics such as race, sex, age, disability, religion or pregnancy.
Workplace harassment is still an issue nationwide, newly released Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) figures show. In fiscal 2024, the agency received 88,531 charges of discrimination, 40.4% of which included allegations of harassment. Workers in Mississippi filed 1,200 discrimination charges with the EEOC in 2022.
Discrimination may be apparent in a series of events or a change in behavior that negatively affects the employee’s career, pay or overall well-being. Examples of workplace discrimination can include unequal discipline or performance evaluations, changes to shifts or schedules without cause or reason, lost opportunities for advancement or retaliation after an employee reports concerns. Some employees face comments or a hostile work environment that becomes worse over time.
A Hattiesburg workplace discrimination lawyer can help you determine whether the treatment violates federal law or any applicable Mississippi protections.
How a Workplace Discrimination Lawyer Can Help
Filing a workplace discrimination claim can be overwhelming without clear guidance. Employees may need assistance to understand their rights, what evidence proves and how various laws may apply to their situation. An attorney can help provide a much-needed structure during an emotionally charged process. A Hattiesburg workplace discrimination lawyer may be able to:
- Review the facts to determine if federal or Mississippi laws may apply.
- Explain filing deadlines, including what may be required before contacting the EEOC.
- Discuss potential next steps based on the evidence and the employer’s response.
Evidence That Supports a Strong Workplace Discrimination Claim
An employee’s strong evidence is crucial in showing that unfair treatment was based on a protected characteristic, rather than disagreements, misunderstandings or routine discipline. Employees can help their case by writing a timeline of events, saving emails, tracking performance evaluations and noting any sudden changes in job duties or expectations. Observations about coworkers, such as pay, hours or disciplinary outcomes, can also be useful.
Witness statements may help to establish a pattern of behavior, particularly with hostile work environment claims. If possible, employees should document each instance of discriminatory comments or actions. A workplace discrimination lawyer can help determine which pieces of evidence matter most and how they support the overall claim.
The treatment you receive at work can impact your job, your self-esteem and your career path. When the treatment is unjust or is motivated by discrimination instead of your performance, it can feel like a violation of your future. The first step in protecting your future may be to better understand your rights.
A Hattiesburg workplace discrimination lawyer can discuss the details of your case, explain how Mississippi and federal law apply and help you assess options for your future. WaideLaw’s values of integrity, community and service ensure clients benefit from an approach based on experience and compassion. If you think you have been mistreated at work, consider setting up a consultation to discuss your case and hire a workplace discrimination lawyer.
FAQs
What Constitutes Workplace Discrimination in Mississippi?
Workplace discrimination in Mississippi can occur when an employer disciplines an employee, pays an employee less than other workers, denies promotions or fires an employee based on a protected category rather than their job performance. Protected categories include race, sex, age, disability, pregnancy or religion.
Employees may face harassment or retaliation for raising concerns with a supervisor. A workplace discrimination lawyer can evaluate your treatment and help you understand if it would be defined as illegal discrimination under applicable law.
How Do I Know if I Have Enough Evidence for a Claim?
The evidence you have may help a lawyer understand if you have enough information to file a workplace discrimination claim. Things to gather include documentation of treatment you received, timelines, email messages, job performance evaluations and a description of how you were treated differently from your coworkers.
You may also want to provide the names of coworkers who could serve as witnesses or any documents that show you complained about the behavior.
What Should I Do After Experiencing Discrimination at Work?
Actions employees should take after experiencing discrimination may include writing down everything that happened, saving any written communications and keeping track of any changes in duties or treatment. Employees may also want to make sure they have reported their concerns through an employer’s internal process, if applicable.
A lawyer can review an employee’s situation, including explaining deadlines for action and whether additional steps, like filing with the EEOC, would be necessary before taking further action.
How Can a Hattiesburg Workplace Discrimination Lawyer Help Me?
A Hattiesburg workplace discrimination lawyer can review what happened to you and explain how state and federal laws may apply to your situation. A lawyer can also explain the different courses of action you may be able to pursue, which may include assessing the evidence you have, guidance on making internal complaints with an employer and assisting with EEOC filings. The attorney can also help a worker make an informed decision about how to proceed.
Contact a Hattiesburg Workplace Discrimination Lawyer
The treatment you receive at work can impact your job, your self-esteem and your career path. When the treatment is unjust or is motivated by discrimination instead of your performance, it can feel like a violation of your future.
The first step in protecting your future may be to better understand your rights. A Hattiesburg workplace discrimination lawyer can discuss the details of your case, explain how Mississippi and federal law apply and help you assess options for your future.
WaideLaw’s values of integrity, community and service ensure clients benefit from an approach based on experience and compassion. If you think you have been mistreated at work, consider setting up a consultation to discuss your case and hire a workplace discrimination lawyer.
