Racial discrimination in the workplace is illegal under both federal and New Jersey law. If you’ve been denied a job, raise, promotion, or subjected to unfair treatment because of your race, ethnicity, or national origin, you may have the right to pursue legal action. NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC represents workers in Atlantic City who have experienced racial discrimination on the job.
Employment Discrimination Based on Race or National Origin
Employers cannot make decisions about hiring, firing, pay, promotions, assignments, or any other terms of employment based on an employee’s race or background. Workers in Atlantic City may have grounds for a claim if they’ve experienced:
- Retaliation after reporting race-based bias
- Being paid less or passed over for advancement due to race
- Harassment creating a racially hostile work environment
- Disciplinary actions, demotion, or termination tied to racial stereotypes
Legal Protections Under Federal and NJ Law
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars race discrimination for employers with 15 or more employees. Employees must file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) before pursuing a federal lawsuit. Our attorneys handle the EEOC process from start to finish.
New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD) offers even broader protection. It applies to all employers, regardless of size, and allows workers to file directly in state court without going through the Division on Civil Rights. Depending on your circumstances, we may pursue your case in state or federal court.
Focused Legal Help for Racial Discrimination Cases
NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC focuses on results. We gather evidence, analyze your employer’s actions, and assess whether the discrimination was intentional or the result of a pattern of biased practices. Whether negotiating a settlement or filing suit, we work to recover damages for:
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- Punitive damages (when applicable)
- Legal costs
If you’ve been discriminated against in an Atlantic City workplace, speak with our legal team. We’ll explain your rights and options during a confidential consultation.
Understanding Types of Racial Discrimination
Our firm represents Atlantic City workers in both categories of unlawful discrimination:
- Disparate Treatment – Intentional discrimination where an employee is treated differently because of race.
- Disparate Impact – Policies or practices that appear neutral but disproportionately harm certain racial or ethnic groups.
We evaluate your case and determine the most effective path forward based on the facts and your employment history.
Disparate Treatment Discrimination
Disparate treatment occurs when an employer deliberately treats an employee differently because of race. This form of discrimination often involves biased decisions, selective enforcement of rules, or direct acts of racial bias in employment practices.
Examples include:
- Promoting white employees over equally or better-qualified employees of color
- Subjecting only non-white employees to drug testing
- Enforcing grooming policies that target natural Black hairstyles, including braids, locs, or afros
- Issuing harsher discipline to employees of color for the same conduct as white coworkers
Both federal and New Jersey law prohibit these actions. Employers are required to apply rules, policies, and employment decisions equally, without consideration of race, ethnicity, or national origin.
If you’ve experienced racially biased treatment in an Atlantic City workplace, NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC can investigate your case and pursue legal remedies under state and federal law.
Disparate Impact Discrimination
Disparate impact refers to policies that appear neutral but disproportionately harm employees of a particular race. These cases don’t require proof of intent, but they do require evidence that a policy creates a racial imbalance that isn’t justified by business necessity.
Common examples include:
- Broad criminal background checks that exclude many Black and Latino applicants without clear job-related reasons
- Workplace policies that disadvantage one racial group over others without justification
- “English-only” language rules that target employees whose first language isn’t English
Employers must show that these policies are directly related to job performance and necessary for the operation of the business. If they cannot, the policy may violate anti-discrimination laws.
In Atlantic City, NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC evaluates these cases by reviewing employer practices, analyzing data, and challenging unlawful policies through legal action when appropriate.
Do You Have a Valid Racial Discrimination Claim?
To bring a successful racial discrimination claim, you must be able to prove the following:
- Protected Class: You are part of a legally protected group based on race or ethnicity—such as African American, Latino, Asian, or other non-white identities.
- Job Performance or Qualifications: You were either qualified for the job you applied for or meeting the legitimate expectations of your role when the discrimination occurred.
- Adverse Employment Action: You suffered a specific negative employment action—being denied a job, fired, demoted, passed over for promotion, or otherwise harmed at work.
- Causation and Harm: The action must be linked to your race and must have caused actual harm, such as lost income, diminished job prospects, or emotional distress.
Strong claims typically include documentation (emails, evaluations, disciplinary records), testimony from coworkers or supervisors, and a comparison to how white employees were treated under similar circumstances.
NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC helps employees in Atlantic City gather evidence, assess legal strategy, and file claims that meet these legal standards.
Consult a Racial Discrimination Lawyer Representing Atlantic City Workers
If your employer took action against you based on your race, it’s critical to understand your rights under federal and New Jersey law. NJ Employment Lawyers, LLC represents Atlantic City employees facing race-based workplace discrimination. Our attorneys review the facts, obtain employer records, and pursue compensation that may include:
- Back pay and front pay
- Reinstatement
- Compensation for emotional distress
- Legal fees and costs
Whether your case is resolved through a negotiated settlement or trial, we work to hold employers accountable. Contact us to schedule a consultation and get a clear understanding of your legal options.