New Jersey Racial Discrimination Lawyers
Protecting Employees in Northern New Jersey
Discrimination in the workplace can have a devastating impact on individuals and communities. When you are subjected to discrimination based on your race or ethnicity, you may experience a range of negative consequences, including lower wages, fewer opportunities for advancement, and a hostile work environment. This can lead to significant financial hardship, emotional distress, and a diminished sense of self-worth.
In New Jersey and nationwide, workplace racial discrimination is not only un-American but also unlawful. At Green Savits, we fiercely protect our clients who have endured this type of discrimination with meaningful legal action. Our team brings tenacity, passion, and strong legal skills to this issue. We can put award-winning attorneys to work for you and a team that has over 100 years of collective employment law experience.
Because we focus on representing employees, we understand how racial bias can show up in subtle ways, such as coded comments in performance reviews or sudden changes in how rules are enforced. We take the time to learn your work history, collect documents, and evaluate how your situation fits within New Jersey and federal civil rights laws. By looking closely at emails, policies, and patterns of treatment, we can help you decide whether to pursue internal complaints, file with an agency, or bring a lawsuit with the support of a racial discrimination attorney NJ employees can rely on for guidance.
Schedule a consultation with a New Jersey racial discrimination attorney at Green Savits by phone at (973) 965-8571 or complete our online contact form.
Racial Discrimination Data
Unfortunately, racial discrimination still occurs in workplaces across the country.
According to Harvard Public Health national surveys:
- 57% of Black Americans have suffered discrimination in pay and promotions.
- 54% of Native Americans living in Native areas have suffered discrimination in hiring, promotion, and compensation.
- 35% of Asian Americans have reported harassment due to their race or ethnicity.
In New Jersey, reports to the Division on Civil Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission show that race and color remain among the most frequently cited bases for workplace complaints. While every case is different, these numbers reflect what many employees in Northern New Jersey experience when they are passed over for opportunities, consistently disciplined more harshly than co-workers, or subjected to racial comments that management ignores. By comparing what is happening to you with broader patterns, we can help you understand whether your situation likely violates the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and whether it makes sense to move forward with a New Jersey racial discrimination lawyer.
Types of Workplace Racial Discrimination
Racial discrimination can occur in a multitude of ways, such as:
- Hiring: Bias during the recruitment process, where candidates are unfairly judged or excluded based on their race.
- Promotion and advancement: The denial of promotions or career advancement opportunities to employees of certain races despite their qualifications and performance.
- Pay disparities: Unequal pay for employees of different races performing the same job with similar qualifications and experience.
- Harassment: Racial slurs, jokes, or derogatory comments that create a hostile or intimidating work environment.
- Job assignments: Employees are segregated into certain roles or departments based on race, limiting their professional growth.
- Disciplinary actions: Disproportionate disciplinary measures against employees of certain races compared to their peers.
- Retaliation: Adverse actions taken against employees who report racial discrimination, such as demotion or termination.
- Access to resources: Unequal access to training, mentoring, or other resources that are crucial for career development.
Addressing these types of discrimination is essential for fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace.
In our experience, these behaviors often occur together and may worsen over time if they are not challenged. An employee might first notice small shifts, such as being removed from important meetings or being excluded from client calls, and later face formal discipline or termination based on exaggerated or inconsistent performance concerns. We work with employees across Northern New Jersey to piece together these events, review evaluations and policies, and determine whether the facts support a claim that can be pursued with the assistance of a racial discrimination lawyer NJ employees can turn to for help holding employers accountable.
What Laws Protect You Against Workplace Race Discrimination in New Jersey?
Anti-discrimination laws and agencies have been created by the federal and New Jersey governments that can be used to seek legal recourse:
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: This federal law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or job applicants based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It applies to employers with 15 or more employees and covers various aspects of employment, including hiring, promotions, and compensation.
- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Harassing a person because of their race or color, including racial slurs and offensive remarks, is unlawful.
- Executive Order 11246: This order prohibits employment discrimination by federal contractors and subcontractors based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
In New Jersey, the primary law protecting against workplace racial discrimination is the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD).
Key aspects of this law include:
- Prohibition of discrimination: The LAD prohibits unlawful employment discrimination based on an individual's race, creed, color, national origin, and other protected characteristics.
- Bias-based harassment: The law also covers bias-based harassment to protect employees from racial slurs, offensive remarks, and other forms of harassment in the workplace.
- Comprehensive coverage: The LAD applies to all employers in New Jersey, regardless of size, providing broad protection for workers across the state.
These provisions are designed to create a fair and equitable work environment, allowing individuals to seek legal recourse if they experience racial discrimination.
If you have experienced race discrimination at work, you may have options to file a charge with the EEOC, file a complaint with the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, or bring a lawsuit in state court under the LAD. Each path has different deadlines, procedures, and potential remedies, so it is important to understand which approach makes the most sense for your circumstances. We help employees evaluate these options, consider the impact on their current job, and decide when it may be appropriate to engage a racial discrimination attorney NJ workers can consult to protect their rights and meet any applicable time limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know If What I Am Experiencing Is Illegal Racial Discrimination?
Illegal racial discrimination usually involves an employer making decisions about hiring, firing, pay, promotions, discipline, or work conditions because of your race, color, or related characteristics. A single rude comment may not be enough, but repeated slurs, differential treatment compared with co-workers, or decisions that clearly tie back to race can cross the line. Reviewing your situation with someone familiar with New Jersey and federal law can help you distinguish unfair behavior from conduct that may give rise to a legal claim.
Can My Employer Retaliate If I Report Racial Discrimination?
Both the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and federal law prohibit employers from retaliating against an employee for making a good-faith complaint about race discrimination or participating in an investigation. Retaliation can include actions like termination, demotion, reduced hours, or undesirable assignments that occur after you raise concerns. Keeping records of when you reported the issue and what happened afterward can be important evidence if you later decide to pursue a retaliation claim.
Do I Need To Quit My Job Before I Bring a Racial Discrimination Claim?
You generally do not need to resign in order to pursue a claim for racial discrimination, and many employees continue working while their complaints are pending with an agency or in court. In some situations, however, the work environment may become so hostile that continuing is no longer realistic. Deciding whether to stay or leave is a personal and financial decision, and it can be helpful to discuss timing and potential consequences with a legal professional before making that choice.
Legal Representation for Employees Facing Racial Discrimination In New Jersey
Green Savits exclusively practices employment law; we work to safeguard your rights and seek legal remedies for discriminatory practices. When our firm is retained, we assess the details of your case and provide advice on your best course of action. Our racial discrimination attorneys in New Jersey guide you through the often complex process of filing formal complaints with relevant authorities after building a solid foundation for your case.
If litigation becomes necessary, we are prepared to represent you in court, using our extensive knowledge and experience in discrimination laws to advocate vigorously on your behalf. We also handle settlement negotiations, aiming to achieve favorable outcomes and provide the compensation or remedies you deserve.
Because we represent employees throughout Northern New Jersey, we are familiar with how judges and agencies in this region tend to view racial discrimination claims, and we use that practical insight when advising you. Our team helps you gather key evidence such as emails, texts, performance records, and witness statements and prepares you for what to expect at each stage, from initial consultation through a potential trial or settlement discussions. By working with a New Jersey racial discrimination lawyer who understands the local legal landscape, you can move forward with a clearer picture of risk, potential recovery, and the steps involved in asserting your rights.
Call (973) 965-8571 or email us on our contact form to consult a New Jersey racial discrimination attorney today.
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“I cannot recommend them enough.”
“I felt like they genuinely cared about my issues, and wanted to help me in the way that was best for me. They respond quickly, professionally, and empathetically, and I genuinely believe there is no where that can do a better job.”- Kelly B. -
“Best in Class”
“They were exceptionally professional, highly responsive, balanced empathy with straightforward input, and always seemed to be one step ahead by looking around corners to ensure all facets of the issue were addressed.”- Steve F. -
“Blew my expectations out of the park”
“He was always easy to reach and quick to answer and genuinely cared about what I had to say - and took the time to research my issue to make sure there wasn't something he missed. Very personable and easy to get along with as well!”- Alexandra W. -
“You couldn’t have a better employee rights attorney fighting for you than Jon Green”
Jon Green is a consummate high integrity legal professional who not only knows New Jersey employment law but knows how it works and how to work it. He is relentless and tenacious in his pursuit of justice for his client. He’s fearless and will consistently fight to get a fair settlement for you. He doesn’t back down. He’s a client-oriented attorney who listens carefully to his client so that he fully understands the case details and what your objectives are. If he doesn’t know or understand something you’ve said, he’ll ask you to explain further. He doesn’t assume anything. He’s very detail oriented. Jon will be fully engaged in your case and is best described as “all in” once the wheels of justice begin to turn. Jon also will tell you what you need to know not what you want to hear. He’ll give you the good news and the bad news. As the case twists and turns, Jon takes the time to explain it so you understand it and what ramifications it has for your case. Jon works with the client collaborating on strategies and next steps. I was referred to Jon by a corporate labor attorney who recommended Jon because “Jon has a game plan”. Once Jon knows all the details of your case he definitely will have a game plan. That said, he is open to the client’s opinions and is willing to take a different path that the client suggests if it makes sense and is beneficial to the case. Jon was always accessible and his staff and other partners were very helpful. After three and a half years the case was settled amicably out of court. In my opinion, you couldn’t have a better employee rights attorney fighting for you than Jon Green.- Ted S.
What Makes Us Different
Proven Results. Experienced Team. Personal Commitment.
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A History of SuccessOur attorneys have prevailed in landmark New Jersey Supreme Court cases, making a significant impact on employment law with decisions involving issues like pregnancy and religious discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and more.
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Experienced Trial AttorneysWith a strong reputation for success, we bring the exerience and determination necessary to fight for your rights every step of the way.
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Leadership in Employee AdvocacyOur attorneys have influenced legislation for New Jersey workers and have successfully argued in eleven New Jersey Supreme Court cases on critical issues like pregnancy discrimination, whistleblower retaliation, and sexual harassment.
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Strength in Facing Powerful OpponentsWe don’t shy away from challenging large, well-resourced corporations. Our firm has successfully taken on Fortune 500 companies like AT&T, ExxonMobil, and Pfizer, achieving justice for our clients in the face of tough opposition.
