We frequently receive calls from individuals who are being bullied at work by their bosses. They describe being subjected to rude behavior, such as outbursts, unjust criticism, exclusion, and disrespect. Bullying has a detrimental impact on productivity, employee retention, and mental wellness. It should not be permitted and must be handled at work. If something similar is happening to you, you can get the help of an Austin employment lawyer.

What does Title VII of the Civil Rights Act say?

Workplace discrimination based on specified classifications or traits is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and state legislation. Being a member of a protected class, however, does not make all workplace bullying unlawful. The legislative safeguards focus on discrimination rather than general workplace bullying.

Simply because you belong to a protected class does not make workplace bullying illegal. Bullying must be demonstrated to be criminal harassment if it targets the employee because of their membership in a protected class, and the protected class is the reason for the bullying.

Kinds of discrimination:

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act prohibits companies from discriminating against employees based on their age in a variety of workplace settings. The Equal Pay Act requires that employees of both sexes be paid equally for equal labor and that there be no wage discrimination based on gender. It also forbids companies from lowering salaries in order to equalize remuneration between men and women.

What can you do? 

Anyone who has been subjected to job discrimination may submit a complaint to their local Equal Job Opportunity Commission. The identity of the person being discriminated against can be kept private if another person or organization files the claim on their behalf. To submit a complaint, the individual should supply the EEOC with appropriate information.

Include the complainant’s name, address, and contact information along with the employer’s name and contact information when submitting a complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Give a thorough account of the discriminating incident(s) and the times it happened. If a state or municipal anti-discrimination legislation applies, the complaint must be made within 300 days after the occurrence rather than 180 days after it happened.

Final thoughts:

If a complaint of discrimination is proven to be true, restitution, reinstatement, promotion, reasonable accommodations, and other steps to lessen the victim’s suffering may be taken as remedies. As restitution for the discrimination, the defendant may also be obliged to cover the victim’s legal fees, expert witness fees, and court costs.