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You are suddenly fired and distraught about facing unemployment. One thought crossing your mind is, “Was I fired because of my race?” Unfortunately, this may be the case. Although employment discrimination is illegal, employers sometimes still make isions based on the race or color of employees.
If you strongly feel that your race was a factor in your termination, you deserve assistance figuring out what to do next. Here is some information to help you find out if you have a basis for a wrongful termination claim, what damages may be available and what steps to take.
Proving race discrimination
Your employer is not allowed to fire employees based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin or citizenship status. The evidence of discriminatory termination is usually indirect actions taken by your employer. For example, if you were denied a raise and believe it is because you are Latino, you would have to show that you met the requirements for the raise and someone who is not Latino received the raise.
Sometimes, the evidence is more direct. While these situations are generally less common, they do happen. For example, your manager might have said something along the lines of, “As long as I am in charge, we will not have a Latino in a management position.”
Damages available
If your discrimination lawsuit is successful, you can receive monetary rewards for the losses you have experienced. Potential damages include:
- Reinstatement of your job
- Back pay
- Front pay
- Out-of-pocket costs
- Emotional distress damages
- Punitive damages
- Attorneys’ fees
Damages under Title VII are capped depending on the size of your employer. Section 1981 damages are unlimited.
If you still feel that you were wrongfully fired because of your race, you should take action. Consult a civil rights attorney to learn the best way to proceed with your case and where to file your claims.
Seeking the Help of a Race Discrimination Lawyer
If you think you may have experienced race discrimination, we advise you to seek out a consultation with an attorney who specializes in racial discrimination. OUr workplace attorneys work out of Oakland, California, and Marin County (San Anselmo). We are happy to provide a private, in person consultation to determine if you have a potential case of racial discrimination, especially vis-a-vis workplace law.