Workplaces across all industries have certain policies in place to prevent discrimination and harassment.   Many of these policies are required to be posted to help educate employees about laws that may apply.

These policies will typically apply to all employees.  If you find yourself thinking that you are a victim of workplace harassment or discrimination, this article should help you understand how to file a complaint.

What is a Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy?

A nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policy is just what the name suggests. These policies are put in place by workplaces to define what constitutes both acceptable and unacceptable behavior as it relates to protecting workers based on their race, age, gender, disability, military status, religion, sexual orientation, and more.

A nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policy is meant to help reduce unfair treatment and ensure that employees’ rights are protected.  These policies also exist to make employees aware of the fact that reporting procedures exist, as employees may be nervous to report discrimination or harassment due to the fear of retaliation.

If you have questions about the nondiscrimination policy or anti-harassment policy at your workplace and how to file a complaint related to those policies, feel free to reach out to a workplace discrimination lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team at The Friedmann Firm can take a look at your workplace policies and help determine if they have been violated in any way.

The Nondiscrimination Policy and Complain Procedure

Discrimination at work can occur in a number of ways. A nondiscrimination policy is meant to protect against such actions, but discrimination can still occur. A few ways you might notice discrimination in the workplace include:

• An employer refuses to make reasonable accommodation for your disability
• Discrimination through a job listing
• Benefits or promotion are refused by an employer based on a protected classification you fall under, such as age, pregnancy or disability.

When we talk about a nondiscrimination policy, it is important to highlight the complaint procedure as well, as employees need to understand how to report a potential violation of the anti-harassment or anti-discrimination policy.

If you believe you are facing discrimination, you can also file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) but often, filing a complaint internally will be the first step.

The EEOC oversees and enforces federal laws that “make it illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information.”

To file a complaint with the EEOC  or OCRC (called a “charge of discrimination”), you can file one online, in person at an EEOC/OCRC office, by phone, by mail, or at a local or state Fair Employment Practice Agency.

Something important to note is that a harassment lawyer can file a charge on your behalf. This ensures that you file it correctly, include all of the correct claims and do not miss any statute of limitations that may be applicable to your claims.

There are time limits as to when a charge can be filed. These time limits are called statutes of limitation.  This is a very important concept because if you do not file your complaint in a timely manner, pursuant to that particular statute, you may lose the ability to pursue it completely.

Each claim has a statute of limitations so please consult with a lawyer about this prior to filing.

Speaking with a workplace discrimination lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio about your situation can help to clarify the process you are about to start. And while many workers may choose to report the discrimination to Human Resources or a supervisor, speaking with a lawyer beforehand can be beneficial to you.

The Anti-Harassment Policy and Complaint Procedure

Harassment in the workplace can be based on protected characteristics like race, religion, sex, and more. Individuals might face harassment in the form of:

• Physical assault or threats
• Interference with work
• Offensive jokes, slurs, or name-calling

And while this isn’t an exhaustive list, harassment can occur in many other ways that can lead to a hostile work environment.

For workers that are suffering harassment, the harassment complaint procedure is the same as the procedure discussed above for discrimination.

Connect With a Workplace Discrimination Lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio

Consider partnering with an experienced harassment lawyer before you start the process of filing a complaint with the human resources department, a trusted supervisor, or the appropriate government agency. We can help you understand the process, collect and organize evidence, prepare a formal statement, and escalate the issues you are facing as needed.

If you believe you are facing harassment or discrimination in the workplace, reach out to The Friedmann Firm, LLC today. You can schedule a free and confidential consultation with a harassment lawyer in Cincinnati, Ohio – keep in mind we work with clients throughout Ohio as well.

You can book a consultation over the phone with our Cincinnati office at 513-845-7330 or online through our contact form.