Pennsylvania Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Attorneys
The state of Pennsylvania follows the rule of at-will employment, meaning that either party — employer or employee —can break the relationship without any liability. Of course, the rule of at-will employment is still subject to laws that protect a worker's rights. An employer cannot discriminate against an employee because of age, race, sex, disability, religion, nationality or any other attribute that is legally protected under state or federal statutes. Additionally, sexual harassment, whether it leads to termination or not, is prohibited in the workplace in Pennsylvania.
At the law firm of Grossinger Gordon Vatz, LLP, our employment law attorneys provide representation to employees and employers in cases of employment discrimination and sexual harassment. We have helped victims of discrimination and sexual harassment hold their employers liable for violating workplace laws. We have also helped defend employers from claims of discrimination and harassment that are brought by disgruntled employees.
At GGV Law, our firm has more than two decades of experience protecting the rights of clients. Our lawyers remain committed to serving the individual needs of employees and employers in western Pennsylvania. Contact us to speak with an attorney about your employment law issues.
Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in Pennsylvania
Workplace discrimination occurs when an employee is treated differently based on a legally protected characteristic. Discrimination in the workplace can occur in many forms and for many reasons. Many forms of discrimination are prohibited by a variety of state and federal employment law statutes and regulations, including:
- Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
- Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA)
- Pennsylvania Wage Payment and Collection Law
Discrimination can occur at many stages of employment, including hiring and recruiting, reviews and job evaluations, promotion and compensation actions, disciplinary actions and termination.
Sexual harassment can be caused by the behavior of co-workers or supervisors and may come in two forms:
- Hostile environments: When an employee is subjected to offensive comments or physical contact on a regular basis, the employee may claim that they are subjected to a hostile work environment. Conduct has to be serious and frequent to amount to a hostile environment, but when this environment exists, it can have significant consequences.
- Quid pro quo harassment: Quid pro quo harassment describes a situation where a job benefit is provided in exchange for the submission to sexual advances. These advances can be brought by verbal or nonverbal conduct that is sexual in nature.
Contact Us if You Have Experienced Discrimination or Harassment at Work
There is no place for discrimination or sexual harassment in the workplace. At the law firm of GGV Law, we protect working men and women who have been discriminated against and we protect their rights under state and federal employment law. We will also defend those wrongfully accused of such behavior. Contact us in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at (412) 567-0858 or toll free at (866) 674-7132.
