As our society gets progressively more inclusive, we can all celebrate the fact that we can feel more comfortable in places of work, social gatherings, and public. There is a renewed optimism that our differences will be celebrated, rather than dismissed, and we can fly our true colors and feel like ourselves. Unfortunately, even with all of the progress, we can make, discrimination still happens.

In particular, discrimination in the workplace is an inherent problem as people can’t always get along. Some coworkers will always be unaccepting of others based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or any manner of difference. If you’ve been involved in a workplace discrimination case, you likely know how hard it can be, but you can help receive compensation for it by following these steps in building a legitimate case.

Hire a Qualified and Experienced Lawyer

Workplace discrimination used to be a non-factor for businesses usually chalked up to it being simple bullying or friendly banter. This is true for a lot of busy areas in New York and New Jersey. The ramifications are so serious that it has led to an entire division of the law being devoted to helping stamp out these instances. Your first step in any workplace discrimination case is to hire a qualified lawyer, and the discrimination lawyers at Schall & Barasch in New Jersey highlight what it means to be experienced in this field. A long track record of success in fighting for clients, varied cases of discrimination, and successful compensation are key factors to look for in legal help.

Record and Collect Evidence of Discrimination

He said, she said is almost always the case when it comes to disputes, discrimination, and arguments in the workplace, and there’s nothing you can do to persuade people that you have been wrongfully harassed or harmed due to discriminatory actions. To avoid this, you need to provide concrete evidence. This often means using security footage, gathering eyewitness testimonies, and any kind of evidence that can help you back up your claims. It’s hard enough to try to tell people that have dealt with abuse because of your skin color or beliefs, but it becomes easier when you can show that your account of the incident is in fact truthful.

Avoid Discussing the Case

It can feel hard to bottle up your emotions after dealing with a hurtful incident regarding discrimination, and your natural response is to tell friends, coworkers, or family, but most lawyers will advise against this on a few grounds. The first is that insurance companies will do a deep investigation into your claims of discrimination, so everything you say or post online can be used as evidence against you. Secondly, telling people begins a long and arduous game of telephone where people are spreading rumors regarding the incident you were involved in and it can eventually morph into something entirely separate from reality. The best course of action is to only discuss with your employer what happened but to first contact a lawyer to get guidance on what you should and shouldn’t say to protect your case.

Seek Counselling for Emotional Damages

Depending on the severity of the incident(s), you should also consider seeking counseling for help with any emotional damages or trauma suffered from the act of discrimination you were a victim of. This can be an incredibly emotional time as you are juggling your personal and professional life, along with the requirements needed of you to build a case. This can feel overwhelming, so talking to a trained therapist or psychiatrist can help relieve some of the stress and tension and give you a safe person to talk to that will help you figure out strategies for self-recovery.

File Your Claim Quickly

Much like receiving your legal support, you should file a work claim to your employer and your insurance company (assuming they cover acts of discrimination) as quickly as you can. This allows the investigation to begin sooner rather than later which helps when gathering evidence from eyewitnesses. Eyewitness testimonial is tricky and sometimes unreliable, but the longer time passes on the more details of the incident become blurry. Not to mention, it makes it more legitimate in the eyes of the insurance company for you to make a claim quickly as they perceive that as your due diligence.

Workplace discrimination is quickly dropping and people are able to be themselves in their professional lives without fear of recourse, but the truth is that it’s impossible to stamp out acts of harm, physically, verbally, or emotionally. It is still important for anyone to know what to do when building a case to help fight for the compensation they deserve as a result of the mistreatment they’ve received due to discrimination, which is what this advice has taught you.