Florida Employment Lawyers: Discrimination on the Basis of Sex – How Does it Occur?
Florida Employment Lawyers Report
Although the Civil Rights Act protects all workers in the United States from pay and employment discrimination on the basis of sex, Fort Lauderdale injury attorney Andrew Alitowski notes that the Act’s provisions were enacted primarily to protect women from discrimination. Some employers intentionally discriminate against female worker workers, a practice that was particularly rampant in the 1960s, 1970s, and earlier. At that time, many Americans believed that it was more appropriate for women to stay home to care for the home and raise a family. In particular, since most jobs were dominated heavily by men, bosses and employers did not always believe that women were suited for certain types of jobs. Fortunately, the law protects women who receive lower wages due to discrimination or who suffer through sexual harassment at their place of employment.
Now, women have more options than ever before, which many have embraced regardless of age, says Broward personal injury lawyer Alitowski. Many women pursue full-time careers; others elect to stay at home. Increasingly, women with more earning power are working while their partners stay at home. More and more companies are making alternatives possible for workers, especially parents, regardless of their sex. For example, some companies offer “flex-time” scheduling. Others may allow part-time work arrangements or telecommuting. For example, a mother or father who telecommutes may be able to work from a home office and supervise a child, avoid high child-care costs, and attain a better work-life balance.
Broward injury lawyer Alitowski notes that women still face discrimination in the workplace, which can be overt. An auto mechanic shop owner may think that a woman is just not as naturally suited to car repairs than a man is and may be less inclined to hire her as a result – or even to pay her. A sales company may think that women are not aggressive enough to be effective at high-pressure, high-volume sales positions. Several years ago, there were reports that law firms were giving unwitting female associate attorneys pregnancy tests under the guise of drug testing – an alarming violation of their privacy. Pregnancy discrimination is illegal.
In other instances, women may be discriminated againt less overtly. A worker may receive fewer work hours after she comes back from maternity leave, for example.
