Federal and State Anti-Discrimination Statutes

If you have been terminated from your job, you may not know what rights or options, if any, you possess. The Toledo employment attorneys at Kalniz, Iorio & Reardon Co., L.P.A. can provide advice and guidance to individuals who have been terminated or subjected to a severe adverse employment action. Even “at will” employees in Ohio may have various rights that protect them from unlawful employment discrimination and retaliation.

Laws Against Employment Discrimination in Ohio

There are various laws in Ohio, including Ohio’s Laws Against Discrimination, that prohibit employment discrimination based upon an individual’s race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, or marital status.

There are also federal employment antidiscrimination laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act that may be applicable to employees who are challenging an employment termination in Ohio. Individuals also have legal rights to be free from retaliation for invoking rights under federal and state laws.

How Our Ohio Employment Attorneys Help You

The employment attorneys at Kalniz, Iorio & Reardon Co., L.P.A. represent individuals facing job termination and have the experience, skill and tenacity to ensure that you know what your rights and options are and how you can enforce those rights. There are certain steps that an individual who has been terminated (or faced with a severe adverse employment action) may consider including:

• Obtaining a complete copy of your personnel file, where possible. Under Ohio law, the personnel files of public employees are deemed “public records” available upon request. The availability of one’s personnel file from a private sector employer may depend upon the employer’s policies or the terms of a union contract;
• Documenting instances of alleged discrimination with date, time and brief description. Such documentation should be done during non-working hours and should be done with your own personal (non-work) computer and papers;
• In a unionized workplace, requesting representation by invoking your Weingarten rights if an employment investigatory interview appears to be underway to build a case for termination;
• Obtaining a copy of any employment contracts, employee manuals or handbooks or other written correspondence that outline your employment relationship with your employer; and
• Contacting an attorney at Kalniz, Iorio & Reardon Co., L.P.A. to seek legal advice. Federal and state employment laws have various statutes of limitations and failure to file claims or lawsuits within the statutory deadlines can effectively terminate your right to sue. Moreover, there are certain procedural requirements that must be met in order to pursue various discrimination claims.

The attorneys at Kalniz, Iorio & Reardon Co., L.P.A. can provide guidance on filing charges with the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. We understand the importance that you place on your job and career and that your family depends on your income and the benefits that your job provides. If you have been terminated and have questions about your legal rights, contact the Toledo attorneys at Kalniz, Iorio & Reardon Co., L.P.A.