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Discrimination from customers in the workplace is very common. It occurs when a customer makes negative comments against you or chooses not to work with you because of your race, religion, color, gender, or any other protected class status.
When customers and clients discriminate against you at work, your employer must take appropriate action or be held accountable under the law.
Employee discrimination occurs when an employee receives negative treatment or gets harassed at work based on specific characteristics, such as:
These characteristics are known as protected classes. Several federal and state laws protect employees from discrimination based on protected classes.
Most times your employer does not know your clients or customers are harassing you. Many times, it is done quietly and occurs between you and the client.
Therefore, you must usually report the incident to your employer. Sometimes, your employer may see the incident for themselves. Other times, your coworker may report the incident if they witnessed the discrimination or harassment.
Once you make your employer aware of the situation, they must act to protect you from continued hostility and discrimination.
Third-party discrimination occurs when a customer, client, or other non-employee discriminates against an employee based on protected class status. This type of discrimination is also known as employee discrimination by a customer.
Examples of this discrimination by a customer at work include:
Your employer must provide a safe work environment. A safe work environment includes an environment free from discrimination and harassment. Once you report the discrimination from a customer to your employer, he must investigate the claim. However, in the meantime, he can address your concern by setting boundaries within the workplace. Your employer must take proper measures to stop the behavior.
Some ways an employer may stop discrimination from a client include:
No matter how much money the client brings to your company, your ability to work in an environment free from discrimination is worth more. If your employer does not protect your rights against discrimination from a customer at work, contact a discrimination lawyer to help you speak up and fight for your rights.
If your employer does not act on your complaint, commits wrongful termination, or otherwise retaliates against you, you have the right to seek compensation under federal law. However, you must work for a company with at least 15 employees. You may file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) within 180 to 300 days of the discrimination.
You may choose to file your claim under state laws. State laws can sometimes protect employees in companies with as few as one employee. They also may provide more time to file your complaint.
Your case may take several months to several years to settle. If your employer wants to negotiate early, you may reach a settlement within the first few months of filing the claim. However, sometimes settlement negotiations can take months or even years to complete. Therefore, it is best to work with an experienced discrimination lawyer to help you negotiate for a fair settlement from the moment you file your claim.
When you file a discrimination claim with the courts, you likely want compensation for your hardship. When you successfully win your third-party discrimination case against your employer, the courts may offer the following forms of relief:
Several state and federal laws protect employees from discrimination by customers in the workplace. Some of the federal laws that protect your rights include:
These laws (and more) also prevent your employer from punishing you or committing acts of retaliation, such as demoting you, firing you from work, and giving you a poor review because you reported customer acts of discrimination. If you get fired from work or face other punishments in the workplace, contact a discrimination attorney to help you stand up for your rights.
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It was a pleasure to have Casey represent and help me for my employment case. It was my first time needing an attorney, so I was a bit apprehensive at first – Casey took the time to answer all of my questions and fully explain everything to me, which really put me at ease. He was very attentive, supportive, and knowledgeable throughout the whole process – Casey would ask questions to ensure... Read Full Testimonial
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Our dedicated attorneys are ready to fight for your workplace rights and ensure justice!
Many employers mistakenly operate on the concept that the customer is always right. They will fight vigorously to defend that concept. When you file a claim for discrimination from a customer, you are battling this belief and fighting against their team of qualified attorneys to do it.
Working with a dedicated discrimination lawyer can help you stand up for your rights when your employer is pushing so hard against them. Your lawyer can help you file your claim under the laws designed to protect you in the time frame the law allows. They can advocate for you against your employer and their team of attorneys, reminding them employees have rights to a safe work environment, even when it means losing a customer.
Your employer must protect you from discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Whether the behavior comes from a supervisor, coworker, or client, your employer must put your rights first. If your employer did not protect you from third-party discrimination, the Derek Smith Law Group’s dedicated lawyers can help.
Did Your Employer Ignore Your Complaint About Discrimination from a Customer or Client? Do You Want to Know More About Your Rights? Please Call Us at 800.807.2209 with Your Questions.
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