What can I do about discrimination at work?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What can I do about discrimination at work?

My company is providing paid vacations and I have been employed for 1. 5 years. I didn’t take a single day off, was working sick, made a lot of overtime and didn’t request for vacations. Recently, I bought a house and needed to take some time off to settle it down. I requested 2 weeks of vacation but my direct supervisor, in front of other employees, said that 2 weeks of vacation were unacceptable as it is too hard for the department. However, other co-workers from my department have taken 2 weeks of vacation in the last year. We discussed it with him and agreed that I will take off every Friday as vacation time to get my personal business done. However, now I found out that he approved another employee for a 2 weeks vacation in 2 months. I see pure discrimination here. What are my chances to win?

Asked on October 24, 2017 under Employment Labor Law, Maryland

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 6 years ago | Contributor

Actionable discrimination in the workplace has to do with a person's inclusion in a "protected class". In other words, they must be treated differently than others based on their race, religion, nationality, age (over 40), disability, gender, etc. Otherwise, giving co-workers more favorable treatment is legal. The fact so that employees need not be treted the same or even fairly (absent the aforementioned discrimination). Therefore, unless this action violates the terms of an employment contract or union agreemnt, it is legal.

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 6 years ago | Contributor

Actionable discrimination in the workplace has to do with a person's inclusion in a "protected class". In other words, they must be treated differently than others based on their race, religion, nationality, age (over 40), disability, gender, etc. Otherwise, giving co-workers more favorable treatment is legal. The fact so that employees need not be treted the same or even fairly (absent the aforementioned discrimination). Therefore, unless this action violates the terms of an employment contract or union agreemnt, it is legal.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption