New York employment discrimination runs rampant, even if the actions of the violators may not be overt or obvious. And employers should certainly know it is illegal to discriminate against employees or prospective employees based on their age, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, a pregnancy or a disability or perceived disability. Often, employees who are forced to endure employment discrimination suffer anxiety, humiliation, fear, anger or financial problems due to the unjust acts of their superiors, or even their coworkers. Fortunately, there are laws which protect victims of employment discrimination from injustice.
You have certain rights as a potential employee afforded by Federal, New York State, and New York City law. The protections of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, New York Executive Law, and New York City Human Rights Law even apply to the interview process. Know before you go. There are certain questions regarding your identity which are off limits during the interview. The interviewer is barred from asking you about your birthplace, nationality, religion, maiden name, marital status, which church you attend, whether you have (or plan to have) a family, whether you need time off for a religious holiday, whether you are pregnant, whether you are the head of a household, or whether you have physical disabilities. It certainly makes sense why these areas are forbidden territory during an interview. A prospective employee should be measured on the quality of their education, work history and character, not unessential characteristics which have no bearing on their potential for workplace success.
By educating yourself concerning the type of questions an employer may not ask, you can safeguard yourself against improper questioning, voice your concerns, and determine whether you would like to work for a company. And if you truly believe that an employer has overtly discriminated against you in the interview process, there are several legal avenues you may choose to entertain, and the attorneys at the Law Offices of Maya Risman, P.C. can help you choose the best one to follow.
If you believe you or your family member was and/or has been discriminated against in the workplace, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Risman & Risman, P.C. at (212) 233-6400 or contact us online.