Gender discrimination takes many forms – from “glass ceilings” precluding advancement, to gender stereotyping which relegates women to antiquated notions of “traditional” woman’s work, to overtly sexualized behavior where women are viewed as objects and not equal contributors. Whatever its form, the Minneapolis gender discrimination attorneys at Schaefer Halleen are committed to advocating for full equal employment opportunities for women in every workplace discrimination in Minneapolis.
Gender Discrimination Can be Overt or Subtle
Schaefer Halleen gender discrimination attorneys understand and will prove gender discrimination not just when the bias is obvious – when there are frequent sexist comments that pervade the workplace – but when the bias is subtle, but equally destructive, for instance when women, no matter how talented, are relegated to support roles and see no real hope of advancement.
Statistical analysis of the US workforce consistently demonstrates that women are advanced less frequently, paid less, and given less mentoring than similarly situated men. While there has been some progress in closing these gaps in the last twenty years, this progress has been far too slow and the underlying reality hasn’t changed – women have to work harder, for less money, and still face sometimes insurmountable obstacles to advancing to real leadership positions that are, statistically speaking, overwhelmingly filled by men. Our Minneapolis employment law attorneys fight to right these wrongs and level the playing field in the workplace.
The Client: 3,000+ Financial Advisors
Approach: Larry Schaefer served as co-lead counsel in this gender discrimination class action successfully prosecuted on behalf of more than 3,000 financial advisors.
Solution: The case settled for $31 million and extensive injunctive relief that revamped the compensation and promotion system, imposed internal training, and specific complaint resolution procedure.
The Client: 200+ Female Technicians
Approach: Larry Schaefer acted as lead counsel in this class action gender discrimination claim involving female technicians at 6 CBS-owned stations.
Solution: After a class was certified, the case settled for more than $8 million in compensation and comprehensive injunctive relief involving distribution of overtime, assignments, training and reporting obligations on behalf of approximately 200 female employees.
The Client: Executive Vice President of HR
Problem: Complains of sexist hierarchy, breach of promise to award her promotion to parent company, as well as sexual harassment.
Approach: Larry Schaefer presented facts and detailed analysis of legal claims in letter to Chairman.
Solution: Negotiate significant exit severance package including multiple years of compensation, voluntary resignation, reference letter, outplacement services paid by company, and client is now serving in similar capacity in another company.
Finding Solutions to Workplace Discrimination Problems
Pervasive Unfavorable Gender Stereotypes Persist in Most Industries
Across most all industries in the public and private sector, professional women have to overcome hurdles that aren’t there for men. These includes antiquated notions that women bear the most significant responsibility for maintaining the home and raising the children and thus can’t “commit” at work like a man, or that women are “soft” and don’t have the “killer instinct” necessary to lead at the highest levels like men.
Some industries have remained male-dominated and are only beginning to be integrated by gender, such as construction, many financial industries, engineering, etc. These industries can be even more difficult for women to be given true “equal employment opportunity” that the law requires. Regardless of where you work, or in what industry, the Minneapolis gender discrimination lawyers at Schaefer Halleen have deep experience in advocating for true equal employment opportunity for women at every level, in any industry.
Schaefer Halleen Attorneys Have the Experience Necessary to Prove Gender Discrimination in Minneapolis
Schaefer Halleen’s Minneapolis gender discrimination lawyers know how to prove gender discrimination, especially when that discrimination is subtle, but no less destructive to women. Schaefer Halleen lawyers know how to develop the evidence of a pattern of gender discrimination throughout an organization, often developing critical and admissible “me-too” evidence in support of our clients’ claims. This can be often the difference in successfully proving these cases.
We also know how to prove that the reason(s) offered by the employer are actually an excuse covering a gender motivated bias (which the law calls “pretext). There are many ways to do this in litigation, and the Schaefer Halleen gender discrimination attorneys are proficient and experienced in every one of these areas.
FAQs About Minnesota Gender Discrimination
Sex discrimination can take many forms, and it can be overt or subtle. A company paying women less than men could be an obvious form of sex discrimination. Things such as gender stereotyping can be harder to identify or prove, but they can be equally damaging. In some cases, women in a workplace are sexualized or not taken seriously. Men can also be discriminated against based on sex. Sex discrimination is damaging to everyone in the workplace and must be addressed.
It’s difficult to pinpoint the cause of gender inequality because there are many contributing factors. Outdated opinions about women in the workplace can lead to gender inequalities and outright discrimination towards women. We can work towards equity in the workplace by highlighting gender discrimination and demanding corrective action from employers.
Sex discrimination happens anywhere, but it can be particularly insidious in the workplace. Small slights can turn into glaring and illegal differences in the way men and women are treated at work. Employers often don’t do enough to prevent sex discrimination at work, but working with an attorney when discrimination occurs at your workplace can often help.
You can do so both internally at work or to a government agency. If you need to file a claim for sex discrimination, we would recommend getting in touch with an attorney who focuses on discrimination. Your attorney would know important information about the deadlines for filing claims and how they must be filed. In addition, your attorney would act as an advocate for you as you navigate the entire process.
You are legally protected from retaliation if you report sex or gender discrimination. You cannot legally be fired from because you reported discrimination to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). You also cannot be fired or discriminated against for reporting discrimination to a supervisor or manager. If you feel you have been retaliated against, an employment lawyer can help you determine the best next steps.
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