San Antonio Gender Discrimination Lawyer
One of the oldest and most pervasive forms of discrimination in human history is gender discrimination. Even in the United States, women have only been allowed to vote since 1920, fifty years after the passage of the 15th amendment, which prohibited the denial of voting rights based on race. Although Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on gender, it also specifically prohibits sexual harassment and pregnancy discrimination.
For more information on your employment rights under the law, contact the San Antonio gender discrimination attorneys of Melton & Kumler at 800-681-6932.
The Equal Pay Act (EPA)
In addition to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act (EPA) is another means of ensuring gender equality in the workplace. Historically, women tend to be paid less than men, despite holding comparable positions. The EPA specifically forbids this type of discrimination, unless the difference in pay is the direct result of a consistent system of seniority.
The key is consistency; oftentimes an employer will claim to base compensation on performance or seniority, but investigation will show that the difference in pay is actually discriminatory. As such, it is important to consult an experienced gender discrimination lawyer if you feel you are not being adequately compensated. Contact the San Antonio gender discrimination lawyers of Melton and Kumler at 800-681-6932 to schedule a consultation.
Intentional or Unintentional?
It is important to note that discrimination does not have to be intentional in order to be illegal. There are certain situations in which gender discrimination may occur legally, but the following conditions must be met:
- There must be a direct relationship between sex and one’s ability to perform one’s job.
- The duty that one cannot perform must be directly related to the “essence” or “central mission of the employer’s business.”
- There are no reasonable alternatives to the duty that cannot be performed.
It is sometimes difficult to determine whether or not these conditions have actually been met. Because these conditions can be ambiguous at times, you should contact an experienced gender discrimination lawyer in San Antonio if you have questions about an employer’s practices.
Contact Us
If you believe you have been unfairly discriminated against on the basis of gender, either intentionally or unintentionally, or you have been sexually harassed, contact the San Antonio gender discrimination lawyer of Melton & Kumler at 800-681-6932.