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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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View All TestimonialsOlivia is the best! Oliva was very thorough, patient, and very detailed and descriptive regarding the process. She was very supportive of my sexual harassment case. From the very beginning, she communicated and would provide me with any updates and she was always available when I needed anything. More importantly, she always extended that comfort level of trust which always made me feel at peac... Read Full Testimonial
Casey Barkhordarian is a fabulous attorney to work with. He explained everything to me about the case (including the millions of questions I asked) right from the start of our very first meeting. He did so in a way that I could understand and was very prompt and clear with communication the entire time. Casey Barkhordarian is a very competent and knowledgeable lawyer to have on your team. I def... Read Full Testimonial
Matt Finkleberg is by far the best attorney I’ve ever hired! From the outset, it was evident that he was not just another lawyer; Matt is nothing short of extraordinary. He possesses the ability to do his job phenomenally while somehow managing to give me hope during one of my darkest of hours. Matt consistently returned my calls promptly, regardless of my questions, confusion, or self-doubt ... Read Full Testimonial
I cannot speak highly enough about my experience working with Matt Finkelberg. From the very beginning, Matt approached my case with an incredible level of professionalism, knowledge, and dedication that immediately put me at ease. It is rare to find an attorney who not only possesses an impressive depth of legal expertise but who also truly cares about the well-being and best interests of thei... Read Full Testimonial
Olivia is absolutely outstanding! She understands the emotional side of your case while being able to find the legal aspects of holding the employer accountable for breaking the law! Made a really terrible situation a little easier by explaining everything and helping me get everything in order and in the right hands. I would not use anyone else! Call them for any sexual harassment case... You ... Read Full Testimonial
This law firm is absolutely amazing!!! They went so above and beyond for me!!! I am so grateful for all their help with my difficult case!!! If you need a lawyer, you will be in great hands with their firm!!! And wait until you see the office! The building is so high tech I couldn't figure out how to get in the elevator lol!
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
matt is an excellent attorney. he handled my case with the utmost care and highly exceeded all expectations. i could not recommend derek smith and esp. matt finkelberg enough
matt is an excellent attorney. he handled my case with the utmost care and highly exceeded all expectations. i could not recommend derek smith and esp. matt finkelberg enough 🙂
Matt handled a suit against the City of LA and members of the a Neighborhood Council for racial discrimination and harassment. Ths was the first suit of this type filed on a Neighborhood Council Matt handled it with poise and above all professionalism. He walked me through the 3 year process and above all provided moral support and encouragement as I still experienced racism and harassment duri... Read Full Testimonial
Matt Finkelberg is Amazing and Devotional! It was a pleasure to have Matt represent me for my employment case. He was very attentive, supportive, and knowledgable throughout the whole process. Whenever I reached out he responded promptly which I greatly appreciated. Matt fought diligently and hard throughout my case to make sure my case was represented best. Thank you again Matt for everything.... Read Full Testimonial
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
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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