New York Discrimination Attorneys

Why Choose Us?

When you are a victim of harassment in the workplace, your job performance and your emotional well-being may suffer. At Phillips & Associates, PLLC, we understand how difficult it is for our clients to come forward and talk about unlawful conduct in their workplace.

They may be concerned about being ostracized by their coworkers or retaliated against by their supervisors. Our attorneys believe that every employee in New York is entitled to work free of discriminatory actions. If you have experienced sexual harassment at your job, we will devote our energies to helping you pursue the compensation you need. Retaliation is illegal, but some employers ignore the law. Our compassionate involvement and advice can help address any concerns you may have about adverse consequences for your actions.

Empower Yourself Against Workplace Harassment 

The lawyers at Phillips & Associates, PLLC have represented numerous victims of employment discrimination claims, such as those involving sexual harassment. We have successfully represented employees working at large and small companies who have been victimized by their employers, supervisors, or coworkers. We have also helped them bring retaliation claims when appropriate. We can offer you knowledgeable guidance throughout pre-trial negotiations. If an appropriate settlement cannot be reached, we can represent you aggressively at trial. Our clients value our candor and attention to detail. We communicate clearly, promptly, and compassionately with each individual whom we represent.

How a New York City Discrimination Lawyer Can Help You

Many workers are unsure what to expect when they first reach out to a discrimination attorney New York City employees trust with serious workplace concerns. From your initial consultation, we listen carefully to what happened, explain how New York State and New York City Human Rights Laws interact with federal protections, and outline realistic options for moving forward. We also discuss practical issues that matter to you, such as whether you may continue working, how to document ongoing incidents, and what agencies or courts in New York City, such as the EEOC or the New York City Commission on Human Rights, may become involved in your case.

As your case develops, a workplace discrimination lawyer New York employees turn to for guidance can handle communications with your employer and its attorneys, so you are not navigating hostile conversations alone. We evaluate whether it makes sense to pursue resolution through an internal complaint process, an administrative charge, or a lawsuit in a court such as the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we prepare you for each step. Our role includes assessing settlement offers, explaining the risks and benefits of trial, and helping you make informed choices about how far to take your claim while you focus on your health, career, and family.

What are My Rights in New York?

Phillips & Associates, PLLC has helped numerous individuals exercise federal, state, and local protections against misconduct in the workplace. Title VII is the primary federal law that shields employees against discrimination based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, religion, and sex. Only employers that have 15 or more employees are covered by Title VII.

Other important federal employment discrimination laws include the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. Each law has its own requirements with regard to enforcement and filing a lawsuit. Our attorneys are familiar with these laws and the protections they give employees to be free from discrimination and derogatory comments or conduct. We care deeply about making sure that they can perform their job duties without unlawful hindrances.

Federal law prohibits not only discrimination on the basis of characteristics such as race or national origin, but also harassing remarks or actions on the basis of those characteristics. A single incident, however, must be very severe to qualify as harassment. More often, a pattern of conduct by a supervisor or coworker gives rise to a hostile and intimidating work environment and a viable claim. At our firm, we will take the time to understand the details of our clients’ situations and craft the strongest possible argument for them.

The court uses both objective and subjective standards when determining whether the conduct at issue was sufficiently pervasive and severe to warrant damages. When considering the situation using an objective standard, the jury will look at it from the point of view of whether a reasonable person would feel harassed. When considering the situation from a subjective standard, the jury will look at the victim's perception of the events. An experienced attorney at Phillips & Associates, PLLC can explain how the details of your particular case are likely to be interpreted by a jury, as well as factual or legal aspects of your case that may be more uncertain.

Both state and local laws offer even broader protections to employees who have suffered from discrimination or harassment based on a protected characteristic. New York state law safeguards people who work for companies with four or more employees.

The New York City Human Rights Law is considered one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the country. It is interpreted liberally and protects individuals with regard to the characteristics protected under federal law, as well as additional categories such as marital status, sexual orientation, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest and conviction records, and predisposing genetic characteristics. Our lawyers understand how its many nuanced provisions protect the rights of our clients. After learning about your needs and goals, we will explain your options under this law and others, while carefully answering any questions you may have about the process.