Who knows how to go about getting legal advise re: discrimination at work re: pay?

Question

I have worked in a call center for about a year now. There are three of us women (over 50), who are getting ripped off..when we started, we got $9.00 an hour..and have gotten very low raises, not even a dollar an hour more, yet..The people they are hiring now are of a different ethnic group; that are starting out at higher wages, even more then we are receiving right now. There is no reason besides the fact they are of a different decent..is there anyway we can file a discrimantion law suit..it is not fair..we have to work our butts off ten times harder..this is all causing me health problems.Since I've worked there, my blood pressure has gone up, I have depression, and my asthma has gotten worse...Please help me..or us we would like to be treated fairly!!

Answer 1

You should look into getting a Pre-Paid Legal membership for $17 per month. That way you can talk to a top rated attorney specializing in this area of law to walk you through your rights. That way you will not exactly what you can and can not do. Plus having a membership will help you in lots more areas of life.
Here is a link to get a membership:
http://www.prepaidlegal.com/hub/rexjwhite
Once you have done that we can get you in contact with the attorneys on Monday morning, Wednesday at the latest.

Best Wishes,
Rex White
503-463-7336
[e-mail]

Answer 2

I'm an HR/Payroll Manager at a medium sized company, and I see this quite often. Mind you, I don't determine wages, I just pay employees what the owners and managers determine is fair. However, I see new employees walking in and being offered higher starting wages than our seasoned employees, some of which have been here over ten years. I've pondered this and considered both a new employee with a senior one in the same position, and concluded this: Employers look at the bottom line. Therefore, XYZ Company has 50 employees and gives few or no cost of living raises, yet they have loyal employees who stay for various reasons. Over time, while other companies are giving regular cost of living increases, or earned raises, this company is not or doing so at a slower pace. New prospective employee walks in from a competitor, same skills as Mr. Smith who has been with XYX Co. for ten years, and will NOT accept a position at the wages that Mr. Smith makes. The employer hires this employee at the lowest accepted wage and hopes that Mr. Smith and all the other senior employees don't find out. It's simply that right now companies are competing for workers, and many really have their work cut out for them to retain good ones. They're having to pay top dollar, and they're certainly not going to give raises to all their other employees who have worked the position at lower wages without complaint before the new guys showed up.

This is just a personal take on what may going on. Not that it's right, but it may NOT be the fact that you are women and over 50.

Good luck.

Answer 3

1. Were you willing to accept the job at $9 per hour? (Obvious answer is yes because you are working there).

2. A pretty standard increase nationally this year has been less than 4% but, even at that, you would probably have received about 36 cents an hour increase this year at most employers (if that). So, if you started at $9 and are now making more than $9.36, you're likely ahead of the game on a national average.

3. How do you know that the new people are making more than you? Have you been discussing salaries? If so, you're probably in violation of your company's policies and can be fired for it. Be careful .......

4. Are you bilingual and are the new people? If they are and you are not, your employer's position would likely be that they are more valuable than you.

5. If you really want to go forward with a complaint ... here is the process you need to follow:

.......................................
A. Go to your HR / Personnel area and let them know that you are unhappy and why. Be prepared to provide them your complaint IN WRITING so that you can prove that you've actually had the discussion.

B. After that discussion, if you feel that you are still actually being discriminated against, contact the "Equal Employment Opportunity Commission." Their website is www.eeoc.gov


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Finally ---- just a personal not ----- if you are having health problems over this, you need to resign and find a different job. It is not worth these kinds of issues to your health. In EVERY job, there are going to be people making more and some making less than you are. LIFE isn't "fair" - that's a basic fact of life.

Hope this helps.

(One other comment - PROVING discrimination is REALLY hard to do. Are you in a protected group and are you basing your complaint on something that has to do with being in that protected group? As an employer - if I want to pay Person "A" $10 per hour and Person "B" $500 per hour, I can do that as long as I'm not basing that decision on the fact that Person "A" is a minority (an example) and Person "B" isn't.)

Answer 4

Discrimination is difficult to prove in a court of law. You THINK there is no reason other than these folks are of different ethnicity, but you have no proof of that. If you expect to win any discrimination suit, you need that proof. How will you get it ?

Remember that it is not illegal in any fashion to hire new hires at more than others are earning. Even though it seems unfair, it's still legal. If you're going to get anywhere with this, you will simply have to come up with more solid information than you seem to have.

Answer 5

You could talk to someone at your local EEOC office. But be aware that it's very common for new hires to make more than the people already employed, whether they are of the same background or not - starting wages generally rise or fall based on the availability of qualified people.

Answer 6

Go to your local Department of Labor office or EEOC office. You can look then up in the yellow pages. They will take your statement, file a report, and an investigation will be conducted. They may issue you a right to sue notice, which you can take to a lawyer, though I imagine your employer will work with them to correct the issue if you can indeed prove discrimination.

Answer 7

It sounds like you may have a case for discrimination in employment. I would contact a lawyer who specializes in employment and labor law, and see if they will take the case on a contingency basis (meaning you would pay the lawyer a share of any recovery). I would seek an attorney who is "AV" rated by Martindale -Hubbell, an attorney rating service.

Good luck,
Dana (attorney)

Answer 8

there is a lot which would be stated approximately this challenge, greater advantageous than I care to form out top now. I trust the innovations of the above 2 posters, with some exceptions or adjustments. NO! you do no longer and should no longer positioned up with abuse as you describe it. lots of your place with HR will depend upon your managers rapport with HR and his record with them. It additionally relies upon on in spite of if the supervisor has already filed unsatisfactory comments approximately you to HR. I found out earlier that the guy who gets interior the 1st punches has the excellent threat of surviving. save YOU COOL. As pronounced above, initiate a log of what you sense to be violations of artwork ethics by utilising your supervisor. If I have been on your dilemma, it could even come to my concepts that on the instant's technologies has created some very small tape recorders which would be hid and made obtainable to tape conversations. in line with threat stated tapes does no longer be admissible in courtroom, in spite of if it could have the needed outcomes with the HR branch. good success. be confident to be a reliable worker. Be on time. Get your assigned responsibilities performed. Be friendly. Watch your lower back and save notes.

Answer 9

Talk to a lawyer that advertises a 'free consultation.' If they think you have a case, they will take it (for a portion of the payout, if any)

Answer 10

You have not stated the country where it is happening !!My advise to you will be to quit the underpaid, ill treated job and join a new venture !!