Sex Discrimination in the Workplace

Employment Lawyer

When you work long hours, exceed expectations for your work, and come in with a good attitude, you are setting yourself up for success. Once a promotion rolls around, you may be prepared to make your case for why you deserve a promotion. However, being passed over for a promotion or for other work-related awards or benefits can be difficult, especially when you believe there is more behind it than someone else simply performing better or being more qualified. If you believe you were passed over for a promotion because of your gender or if you have been treated unfairly in the workplace because of it, you should consider reaching out to a local attorney. 

How Do You Know the Actions Were Discriminatory? 

When you are trying to make a case that you have been treated unfairly at your place of work because of your gender, the big thing that you and your attorney will need to prove is that the person overseeing these decisions intended to treat you differently because of your gender. You will need to show a few things when you go to court. That:

  • You were qualified for the promotion you were seeking
  • You did not get the promotion
  • You are part of a protected class
  • Your supervisor or employer knows that you were qualified for the position and instead chose someone else who is not a part of your protected class or continued to search for someone else

Once you have shown this, your employer will need to explain what their motives were for passing you over for the promotion. While it is certainly possible that your employer had a legitimate, good reason for passing you over, they may also use any excuse to hide their true intent. As a lawyer, like an employment lawyer in Fairfax, VA from a law firm like May Law, LLP knows, it is helpful at this point to have evidence showing other ways your employer may have disrespected you or discriminated against you in the past. For example, if you have evidence that your employer has made sexist comments about you (or women in general) in the past or if you have other co-workers who are willing to come forward and state that your employer has done something similar to them, this can help show their true motivation. 

If you are being discriminated against at work, do not hesitate to fight on your behalf and work with an attorney. To see how a local attorney can help you with your case, reach out to a nearby office today.