Employers and their employees will likely see new and amended workplace laws and rules in 2021 and beyond. If signed, the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Equality Act will help limit discrimination on the basis of sex in the workplace.
Sex Discrimination Workplace
Sex discrimination in the workplace can include anything from sexual harassment to disparate treatment based on sex. The Paycheck Fairness Act seeks to eliminate disparities in pay between male and female employees, requiring employers to base pay decisions on bona fide factors such as education, training and experience rather than defending decisions as “factors other than sex” allowed under current law. The act goes further by prohibiting employers from preventing employees’ discussion of wage information making it easier to uncover discriminatory practices in the workplace on the basis of sex.
Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Although the Supreme Court held that workplace sex discrimination includes protections for sexual orientation, new legislation is expected to pass prohibiting discrimination with respect to employment, housing, education, and public accommodation on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity under the Equality Act. The Act would beef up sex discrimination protections for many Americans on the job due to their sexual orientation.
Legal Remedies for Workplace Discrimination
Many who have suffered discrimination in the workplace – subject to consequences such as losing their job – often face hurdles when trying to fight back because of employment agreements they were forced into when hired. The elimination of mandatory pre-dispute arbitration agreements and the elimination of class action waivers are also in the works for the new Administration, allowing employees to take their disputes to court individually or as a group for violations of their employment rights. If you have suffered discrimination in your Iowa workplace on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, pregnancy, or sexual orientation, for a free and confidential consultation, contact Des Moines workplace sex discrimination lawyer Marc Humphrey for immediate assistance today at 515.
