Employers are prohibited from discriminating against certain protected classes of workers including refusing to hire, terminating employment, or taking other adverse employment actions based on the protected class. The law further prohibits harassment or retaliation against the same protected classes in the workplace.
Under the Wisconsin Fair Employment Act (WFEA), discrimination or harassment is unlawful if it is based on age (Over 40); arrest or conviction records; race; national origin, ancestry and ethnicity; creed/religion; gender, sexual orientation, or pregnancy; and other protected classes.
Under the Law, if an individual or employee is a victim of unlawful discrimination, harassment or retaliation, they may be entitled to recover lost wages, attorney’s fees, and other costs in addition to possible reinstatement of they were fired.
Compensatory damages and punitive damages are not available through the WFEA, but may be available under federal discrimination law in cases involving intentional discrimination based on a person’s race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), religion, disability, or genetic information.
When you have suffered discrimination, harassment or retaliation in your Wisconsin workplace, it is important to seek guidance from a Wisconsin employment discrimination law attorney.Contact the employment law offices of Alan C. Olson & associates for immediate assistance today at 262-785-9606.
