Many employers are “equal opportunity.” If a company discriminates or harasses an employee or applicant, this can be considered a criminal action. Age, race, gender, disability, sexual preference and other factors can be harassed or discriminated in the workplace. Civil and criminal charges can be pursued against the employer violating such laws.

Despite the Civil Rights Act of 1964, workplace discrimination on the basis of race still occurs in the United States. Not only is is grossly illegal for an employer to discriminate based on race, but it is also illegal to discriminate because of who an employee is married to or spends time with. Proving racial discrimination can be challenging, therefore, it’s best that you consult with an attorney before taking legal action.

Similar to racial discrimination, gender discrimination is protected under federal law. Also similar is the extent to which some employers break this law. Employers are required by law to pay both male and female employees the same if they have the same job with the same responsibilities in the same environment. The subtleties of how Kansas and Missouri rule these types of cases is key, and hiring a workers’ compensation attorney familiar with both states should be your number one priority.