The courts may award damages or relief to victims of discrimination at work. Please note, no two cases are alike. Therefore, no two settlements or awards are the same. One case’s outcome does not guarantee your case will have the same outcome.
Remedies may include some of the following types of relief:
1. Injunctive Relief. Injunctive relief is a remedy forced upon your employer to help correct the problem. They may include some of the following options:
- Reinstatement of Employment
- Implementing Reasonable Accommodations
- Removal of Person(s) Behind the Discriminatory Practices
- Reviewing and Revamping Discrimination Policies and Procedures
2. Lost Wages. Employers may fire (or wrongfully terminate) employees, force employees to quit, or otherwise retaliate against employees and job applicants. As a result, salaries and wages get cut. Benefits also get cut.
Courts may reimburse you for lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses. Lost wages include:
- Back Pay- any money owed from the date of termination moving forward towards the moment of filing.
- Front Pay- If you do not get reinstated in your employment position, you may receive front pay. Front pay includes any money that you could make with an employer after the lawsuit ends until you start a new job. Age, length of employment, length of the average employee’s employment, and length of time to find new employment determine front pay. You must make a valid attempt to find gainful employment to be eligible for front pay.
- Reimbursement of Benefit Premiums – When you lose your job or suffer a reduction of hours, you lose your health insurance benefits. You may request payment of the premiums as part of your lost wages.
3. Attorney’s Fees and Costs. Employment lawyers work on a contingency basis. Therefore, they do not receive payment for time or expenses until you recover on your claim. You may request money for associated medical fees, your attorney’s fees, and court costs as remedies from the courts.
4. Cumulative Damages. Intentional infliction of emotional distress and pain and suffering are remedies offered under cumulative damages. These remedies provide relief for the anguish, anxiety, mental and psychological pain, and physical pain suffered from employment discrimination.
5. Punitive Damages. Some companies, especially those who committed extremely horrific acts of discrimination at work, deserve an extra bit of punishment. Punitive damages punish excessive acts of discrimination.
6. Liquidated Damages. Some federal laws require double or treble damages for violations. Back pay may be multiplied by two or three to offer additional remedies.
Your discrimination and sexual harassment lawyers can help you decipher the types of remedies available to you. They can then help you request those remedies from the court.
Derek Smith
3 min. read
Derek Smith