New York City Racial Discrimination Attorneys

Of the injustices we take on for our clients, the most persistent and frustrating is racial discrimination. It’s often like, as racial discrimination lawyers, we must constantly pursue action against brand new ways to discriminate against people based on race. And we constantly must retread ground of well-covered. As frustrating as we find it, it’s a whole lot worse for our clients who must endure it.

At Eisenberg & Baum, LLP, we are racial discrimination lawyers with experience helping people facing race and color discrimination in Manhattan. We offer you aggressive representation and advocacy because these issues demand swift, unyielding attacks. If you’re worried about taking the next step. We understand. And we’re here to make that easier by answering any question you have.

What Is Race And Color Discrimination In The Workplace?

Race and color discrimination in the workplace is unequal, unfair treatment of a person based on their race or the color of their skin. The actions of discrimination can be:

• Refusal to hire: Employers who reject qualified job applicants based on race rather than their skills or experience
• Unequal pay: Workers receiving lower wages or fewer benefits that colleagues with similar qualifications
• Refusal to promote: Qualified employees passed over for advancement opportunities because of racial bias
• Segregating workers: The practice of separating or isolating employees of certain races, creating divided work environments
• Harassment: Racial slurs, offensive jokes, intimidation or any behavior creating a hostile work environment based on race or color
• Disparate treatment: When employers apply workplace policies or practices differently to employees of different races under similar circumstances
• Disparate impact race discrimination: When seemingly neutral workplace policies disproportionately harm members of a particular racial group, even without intentional discrimination
• Direct discrimination: Open and obvious unfavorable treatment that includes racial slurs or openly using race as a reason for job decisions.

If any of these actions are because of a person’s race, it’s race discrimination and you can take action.

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What Federal And New York State Laws Protect Employees Against Racial Discrimination?

There are several local, state level and federal laws that provide protections against racial discrimination. They are:

• Civil Rights Act of 1964: This federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
• 42 U.S.C. § 1981: A federal law that prohibits racial discrimination in the making and enforcement of contracts, including employment contracts.
• New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL): This state law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability and other characteristics.
• New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL): This city law provides even broader protections against discrimination than federal or state laws.

The NYCHRL is specifically important here: it covers employers with four or more employees and prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color and other protected characteristics. The NYCHRL is known for its expansive interpretation in favor of employees.

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How Long Do You Have To File A Racial Discrimination Claim In New York?

You typically have one year to file for a claim, though federal protections can have a shorter timeline.

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What Steps Can Victims Of Race And Color Discrimination Take?

If you face racial harassment at work, you can follow these steps to protect your rights and address the situation:

1. Document everything: Record all incidents with dates, times, locations, people involved and witnesses.
2. Report internally: If your company has procedures for reporting discrimination, make sure to inform your supervisor or human resources department. This will create an official record and give your employer the opportunity to address the issue.
3. File a complaint with government agencies: If internal reporting does not help, submit formal complaints to anti-discrimination laws. You can file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for federal claims, the New York State Division of Human Rights for state claims or the New York City Commission on Human Rights for city claims.
4. Consult with an experienced attorney: Speak with a lawyer who handles employment discrimination cases to understand your rights and options.

Our team is committed to defending the rights of employees facing racial discrimination in New York. We will support you through each of these steps and stand up against discrimination.

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Can You Be Fired Because Of Your Race In New York City?

Absolutely not. Your racial identity and background cannot influence any hiring or firing decision. However, companies do work hard to circumvent these laws.

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What Damages Can You Recover In A New York Race Discrimination Lawsuit?

In a racial discrimination lawsuit under New York and federal law, you may be able to recover various forms of damages. Common categories of recoverable damages include:

• Back pay and benefits: Compensation for wages, salaries, bonuses and fringe benefits you lost due to discriminatory actions.
• Front pay: Future lost earnings and benefits if reinstatement is not feasible.
• Emotional distress: Monetary compensation for psychological harm, anxiety, humiliation and other noneconomic impacts.
• Punitive damages: Designed to punish particularly malicious or intentional discrimination and deter similar misconduct by others.
• Legal fees and costs: Reimbursement of your attorney’s fees, court costs and related litigation expenses.

A NYC racial discrimination attorney can help present a persuasive case to a judge or jury.

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Does New York Have A Cap On Damages You Can Recover In A Race Discrimination Claim?

Under federal law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 imposes caps on compensatory and punitive damages based on the size of the employer. For example, employers with more than 500 employees face combined compensatory and punitive caps up to $300,000 per plaintiff.

However, New York State Human Rights Law and New York City Human Rights Law generally do not impose the same damage caps. This means that under state or local law, plaintiffs may be able to recover compensatory and punitive damages without the federal limitations.

It is also important to note that filing with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) may precede a lawsuit and involves federal limits and timelines, whereas state and city claims can provide broader relief without the same caps.

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Why Hire A New York City Racial Discrimination Attorney From Eisenberg & Baum, LLP?

Having the right legal team can make all the difference in your racial discrimination case.

• Legal advocacy for all: We believe in empowering victims of discrimination by providing clear information about your rights and options throughout the legal process.
• Trial experience: Our trial-tested attorneys have successfully secured favorable verdicts and settlements for clients facing all forms of race and color discrimination.
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating: This prestigious peer-reviewed rating is widely recognized as the gold standard in attorney ratings. Our firm maintains this rating, reflecting our strong legal ability and ethical standards.

We have seen firsthand the toll racial discrimination can take on someone’s life. As experienced attorneys, we stand ready to help you through the legal process and fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

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Statistics About Racial Discrimination In New York City

Recent, authoritative data reveal measurable racial disparities and discriminatory incidents in New York City:

• Municipal workforce pay disparities: Employees in the New York City municipal workforce who identify as Asian, Black, Hispanic/Latino or other nonwhite groups earn $0.84 for every $1 earned by white city employees.
• Hate crime incidents: In 2023, the NYPD documented 669 hate crimes in New York City, a 12.6% increase from 2022. Race, ethnicity or national origin bias accounted for a significant portion of these incidents, reflecting ongoing racially motivated harassment and violence.
• Employment and wage gaps outside municipal data: Independent research shows stark disparities in median earnings between black and white workers in New York City industries such as retail, postal service, banking and media, with black workers earning substantially less than their white counterparts in the same sectors.

Our experienced NYC race discrimination attorney can help interpret how these patterns relate to your specific case.

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Get A Free Consultation From Eisenberg & Baum, LLP

Our reputation for skilled representation and aggressive tactics is built on years of work in courts. Our lawyers believe in advocacy for everyone, and that means you too. You deserve a tough, unrelenting racial discrimination lawyer on your side. Call us at 212-847-4999 or send an email using this online form.

Our NYC Attorneys Who Fight For Victims Of Racial Discrimination