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Representation That Protects Your Business And Your Budget

St Louis Employment Discrimination Attorney That Is On Your Side

Employment discrimination happens when a business makes personnel decisions, such as hiring, termination, promotion or discipline, based on an employee’s race, gender or other protected characteristics. Many forms of discrimination are illegal under federal and Missouri law, but companies still engage in discrimination. But, at Rowe Law Office, LLC, I help my clients take action.

How Federal and Missouri Law Protects You From Discrimination

There are several laws that protect workers in St. Louis and all across Missouri from discrimination. At the federal level, the laws that protect you include:

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
  • Americans with Disabilities Act
  • Age Discrimination in Employment Act

These laws form the basis of the federal standard for discrimination against people for such reasons, including race, sex, age and disability status. In Missouri, the Missouri Human Rights Act provides similar protection.

These laws are meant to protect your rights, but employers may still sidestep them and must be held to account. If you’ve been fired for a reason that doesn’t make sense to you, reach out to me so I can look at the details of your firing.

What Does Employment Discrimination Look Like?

Businesses can also make many daily decisions that are discriminatory, either intentionally or unintentionally. I help my clients clearly identify the times when they’ve faced such discrimination.

Any time you feel that your outcomes at work unfair, it is possible you were discriminated against. You can pursue action if you were discriminated against for any of the following reasons:

  • Race
  • Gender/gender identity
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Age
  • Religious beliefs
  • Marital status
  • Disability status

The list of potentially actionable classes that make up discrimination is quite long. Discrimination can be the cause of many actions, from loss of favorable working conditions to outright harassing behavior. Whatever you face at work, you do not have to face it alone.

Steps To Filing A Missouri Employment Discrimination Claim

Many employees believe a discrimination lawsuit can be filed immediately after a firing or workplace incident. In Missouri, however, most employment discrimination claims must go through an administrative process before reaching court.

Employees generally must first file a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR). These agencies review the allegations, notify the employer and investigate the claim before a lawsuit may proceed.

That process may involve:

  • Requests for workplace records, witness interviews and written responses from the employer regarding the alleged discrimination. Investigators often review disciplinary history, evaluations and company policies.
  • Mediation or settlement discussions facilitated by the EEOC or MCHR. Some disputes are resolved during this stage without formal litigation.
  • Issuance of a “Right to Sue” letter after the investigation concludes or the agency closes the file. Employees usually need this document before filing suit in Missouri or federal court.

At Rowe Law Office, LLC, I help clients navigate these procedural steps carefully while protecting important filing deadlines and preserving evidence that may support their claims.

What Types Of Employment Discrimination Evidence Should I Collect?

Modern workplace discrimination is often subtle. Employers rarely put discriminatory motives in writing, which means strong cases are frequently built through patterns of conduct and inconsistent treatment.

Direct Evidence

Direct evidence includes explicit discriminatory statements, slurs or written communications tied directly to an employment decision. Examples may include offensive remarks about age, race, disability or gender, or policies that unfairly target protected groups. Although direct evidence can strongly support a claim, it is less common in today’s workplace disputes.

Circumstantial Evidence

Most Missouri discrimination claims rely on circumstantial evidence showing unequal treatment under similar circumstances.

Examples can include:

  • An older employee suddenly receiving repeated discipline shortly before retirement eligibility, while younger employees are treated differently for similar conduct.
  • A worker being denied promotions, accommodations or favorable assignments after disclosing a medical condition or pregnancy.
  • Unequal enforcement of attendance, scheduling or disciplinary policies against certain employees.

Helpful evidence may include emails, text messages, performance reviews, witness statements, personnel records and timelines showing changes in treatment after protected activity occurred.

At Rowe Law Office, LLC, I carefully analyze workplace records and employer explanations to identify inconsistencies that may reveal unlawful discrimination. Careful preparation and detailed evidence often play a major role in building a strong employment claim.

Why Choose Rowe Law Office, LLC?

I have decades of experience as a lawyer for people facing the toughest uphill battles in employment law. I’ve worked both for employees and employers, for small companies and individuals. I bring a wealth of experience and insight into all the dimensions of the legal challenges of discrimination.

I’m ready to help you make the right choices and stand up for yourself in the face of discrimination. Reach out to me, Susan Nell Rowe, today by calling 314-720-6890 or sending an email using this online form.