Naples Employment Discrimination Attorney

Supporting a Positive, Productive Workplace

Discrimination diminishes productivity and makes for a hostile, unpleasant workplace. This is not good for the business or the employees. Even the impression of discrimination can have a negative impact on morale.

Jason L. Gunter, P.A. has handled complex discrimination claims in Southwest Florida for nearly 20 years. Jason is a Florida Board certified Naples employment discrimination attorney who represents clients in Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) proceedings and in trial court.

Protected Classes

Under Florida and federal statutes, certain classes of traditionally marginalized groups are protected from employment discrimination on the basis of:

• Race
• Color
• National origin and citizenship
• Religion
• Gender
• Pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions
• Disability
• Age of 40 and older

What is Discrimination?

Discrimination refers to unfavorable, biased employment decisions that are based on a worker’s membership in a protected class. Discriminatory employment practices might include:

• Recruitment and job postings
• Pre-employment inquiries
• Hiring
• Salary and bonuses
• Health, leave and retirement benefits
• Training opportunities
• Advancement and promotions
• Shifts and types of assignments
• Discipline
• Termination
• Negative employment references

Harassment is Discrimination

Harassment is a form of discrimination. Employers are prohibited from harassing workers because of their race, sex, national origin, religion or another protected class. The harasser may be a supervisor, coworker, vendor or customer and the harassment may take the form of a one-time extremely serious act or a pattern of offensive conduct that creates a hostile work environment.

Establishing a clear protocol for reporting harassment helps the employer and the employee. Grievance policies should be clearly laid out in the employment handbook, including how to file a written complaint, and the employee should be prepared to present evidence of alleged harassment. Protocols can help an employer immediately investigate grievances filed by harassed employees and promptly end the harassment. Likewise, employees can receive the relief to which they are entitled under the law.

Important Antidiscrimination Statutes

Discrimination complaints may be filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR). The laws under which we file a complaint depend on the basis of the claim, but may include:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its amendments
• Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA)
• Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)

Fight for Justice with the Help of A Naples Employment Discrimination Attorney

Naples employment discrimination attorney Jason Gunter represents Fort Myers and Naples workers facing discrimination in the workplace and businesses facing unfounded allegations. Call our firm at 239.334.7017 or contact us online to schedule a complete case evaluation.