South Carolina Workplace Discrimination Attorney

If you experienced negative or unfair treatment at work over your perceived or actual race, color, disability, national origin, age, sex, or religion, you have legal options. Federal and state laws protect workers in these classes to ensure they have access to safe and fair working environments across the country.

When someone violates these laws, a South Carolina workplace discrimination attorney can help you file a civil case for damages. At Anastopoulo Law Firm, our goal is to protect your rights in the workplace and recover compensation for the damages you suffered from this unjust treatment. We’ll review your case for free today. 

How Our Firm Handles South Carolina Workplace Discrimination Cases

When you hire Anastopoulo Law Firm after experiencing discrimination at your place of employment, our team will:

• Explain the federal and state laws that protect your rights
• Identify which of your rights were violated and prepare a complaint with supporting evidence
• File your complaint within the designated filing period
• Let you know what to expect once we’ve filed 
• Represent you during mediation or the investigation into your case
• Help you request a Notice of Right to Sue if necessary
• Calculate the damages you can seek and negotiate for a settlement 
• File your South Carolina discrimination lawsuit 

Along the way, our lawyers will advocate for you and answer any questions you have so you can feel confident as the case progresses.

Previous Clients Give Our Legal Services High Marks

Past clients frequently give us 5-stars on Google for our professionalism, quality, and value. Below, you can hear from a few we successfully guided through South Carolina’s legal process:

• “Great people very responsive and made sure I got what I was owed” Eric Gadson
• “I really appreciate the quality of service and professionalism in handling my case” Verdia Williams

We strive to give you the same experience, so you feel supported during this often emotionally-charged process.

For a free legal consultation with a workplace discrimination lawyer serving South Carolina, call 803-222-2222

Workplace Discrimination Laws in South Carolina

Under both federal and South Carolina state law, workplace discrimination is explicitly prohibited. The federal Title VII Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the workplace based on an employee’s actual or perceived sex, national origin, race, color, or religion. Subsequent federal laws protect against discrimination based on age and disability. 

The South Carolina Human Affairs Law also prohibits employment discrimination involving:

• Harassment or unfair treatment because of national origin, race, color, sex (i.e., pregnancy and sexual harassment), religion, disability, and age (40 years old and above)
• Retaliation because of an employee’s discrimination complaints or participation in or assistance with an employment discrimination investigation
• Denial of reasonable workplace accommodations because of a disability or the observance of religious beliefs

The first step in filing a workplace discrimination claim is determining whether to bring your lawsuit under federal or state law. 

Choosing Whether to File Under Federal or South Carolina Law

South Carolina employees can file workplace discrimination claims with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SCHAC) – the state administrative agency for employment-related issues. 

Both provide avenues of relief for victims, but some consider a federal complaint to be a more favorable route. This preference is largely because South Carolina employment law limits punitive damages and compensatory damages, such as emotional pain and suffering. However, even those cases filed in South Carolina state court under federal employment law could be subject to removal to a federal court.

Under a work-sharing agreement, these two agencies cooperate with one another when processing workplace discrimination claims. As a result, filing a complaint with both agencies is unnecessary as long as an employee indicates that they would like their claim to be cross-filed with the other agency.

How Long You Have to Report Workplace Discrimination

You must file your complaint within the designated window for the case to move forward. Per SCHAC guidelines, you can file with the agency up to 180 days from the day you experienced the discriminatory act. However, you have an additional 180 days to file with the EEOC if the original deadline has passed. 

In South Carolina, you have no more than 300 days overall to report workplace discrimination. 

Examples of Discrimination in the Workplace

With so many protected classes, many scenarios can equate to discrimination. Some examples include:

• A woman receiving lower pay than her male coworkers in the same position with similar experience
• A pregnant worker getting fired because of the pregnancy
• A worker getting passed over for a promotion due to their religion or race, rather than their performance
• Use of racial slurs or offensive symbols to harass employees of color
• Requests for sexual favors in exchange for raises or promotions

These and similar scenarios can create a hostile work environment, preventing the targeted employees from thriving in their positions. When this happens, our team at Anastopoulo Law Firm wants to help you seek justice.

South Carolina Workplace Discrimination Lawyer Near Me 803-222-2222

Filing a Workplace Discrimination Complaint in South Carolina

You have several options for filing a complaint through the SCHAC or EEOC, including a simple online form. Our team can help you prepare your complaint with the necessary supporting documents and submit it to the chosen agency. 

Once you file with the SCHAC, processing takes an additional 180 days on average. Meanwhile, the EEOC provides further details about what happens after you submit a complaint:

• The EEOC sends notice of the complaint to your employer within 10 days.
• Based on the initial findings, the EEOC may recommend mediation. This option allows you to negotiate a settlement with your employer and often leads to a resolution in under three months.
• If mediation fails or is not appropriate for the circumstances, the EEOC will initiate an investigation. This process can take up to 10 months. 
• During the investigation, your employer may respond to the complaint, participate in interviews, or refuse to cooperate. You can also respond and submit additional documents if further discrimination or retaliation occurs.

Once the EEOC completes its investigation, the agency will make a determination. This decision may lead to a voluntary settlement or a trial.

Filing a Lawsuit for Workplace Discrimination

When you can file a lawsuit for workplace discrimination depends on the type of discrimination you experienced. In some cases, you must wait for the EEOC to issue a Notice of Right to Sue – this may be after 180 days, or sooner. 

Meanwhile, certain cases do not require this notice. For example, in a case regarding age discrimination, you can file a lawsuit 60 days after submitting your EEOC complaint. Our attorneys can help you navigate the rules for filing a workplace discrimination lawsuit in South Carolina—this includes making sure you receive a Notice of Right to Sue when you need it so we can begin the process.

What You Could Recover for the Discrimination You Experienced

Recoverable damages in these cases also vary based on the type of discrimination experienced. However, in general you could recover for:

• Wages and benefits you missed out on if you were unjustly fired or the discrimination prevented you from returning to work
• Promotions or raises you didn’t receive 
• Physical or emotional harm you suffered

As your legal team, we will ensure you understand the value of your case so you can seek fair compensation. 

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Your Free Consultation is One Phone Call Away

Choose Anastopoulo Law Firm for legal representation in your workplace discrimination lawsuit. Our South Carolina lawyers can advise you on the best course of action and fight to protect your rights. 

We take pride in fighting for workers throughout the state. Reach out to our team at (800) 313-2546 to begin with a complimentary consultation.