Sanford Workplace Discrimination Lawyer

Skilled Sanford Workplace Discrimination Attorney

Every employee deserves to be treated fairly at work. Unfortunately, many Florida employers continue to treat employees and job applicants unfairly due to their protected characteristics. If you are in this situation, a Sanford workplace discrimination lawyer can work to hold your employer accountable and pursue compensation for your damages.

Why Choose Us?

The Law Offices of Gary A. Costales, P.A., has more than 30 years of legal experience. Our founding attorney, Gary A. Costales, is a Florida Bar-Certified Employment Law Attorney. He has experience working as an administrative law judge and trial attorney for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), where he learned what it takes to build a successful employment discrimination case.

Understanding Florida’s Workplace Discrimination Laws

Workplace discrimination involves unfair treatment of an employee or job applicant. This treatment must be directly due to an employee’s or applicant’s protected characteristic, which can include:

• Race
• Sex
• Gender
• Disability status
• Religion
• Age

Anyone can experience discrimination, though certain groups do see higher rates of workplace discrimination. For example, one in five mothers reports experiencing workplace discrimination due to their pregnancy, 41% of Black workers have experienced discrimination, and Floridians filed 258 charges of religious discrimination with the EEOC in the 2025 fiscal year.

Importantly, workplace discrimination laws protect you against discrimination, no matter where you work. From top employers, such as the Seminole County Public Schools, Seminole State College of Florida, or Central Florida Regional Hospital, to smaller employers, employees are legally protected from discrimination.

Examples of Workplace Discrimination Cases

Workplace discrimination can take many forms; no matter what type you are experiencing, you should reach out to a Sanford workplace discrimination attorney. Some of the most common examples of what workplace discrimination looks like include:

• Choosing not to hire or promote an employee due to a protected characteristic
• Paying different protected groups differently
• Firing an employee due to a protected characteristic
• Making demeaning jokes or unwanted comments related to a protected characteristic
• Failing to provide reasonable accommodations for an employee’s disability or religion

Steps to Take If You Are Being Discriminated Against

If you think you are being treated unfairly, you should take certain steps to protect your rights and prepare in case you need to file a claim against your employer. Key steps include:

• Document the discrimination. Keep a personal record of anything discriminatory that happens, such as instances of harassment or negative business actions. Record what happened, who was involved, when and where it occurred, and whether there were any witnesses.
• Save evidence. Evidence is easier to collect soon after discrimination occurs, so act quickly to preserve any key physical or digital evidence. Often, this includes texts, emails, performance reviews, and photographs.
• File an internal report. Review the procedure for filing discrimination complaints within your company, such as filing a claim with HR or notifying a supervisor. While your employer is obligated to address both written and verbal complaints, filing a written complaint can be useful, as it provides evidence of the report.
• Hire a workplace discrimination lawyer. If your employer ignores your complaint or you are worried about the repercussions of filing an internal complaint, then you should speak with a workplace discrimination lawyer. They can communicate with your employer and help you take the next steps in filing an external complaint.
• File a claim against your employer. There are multiple ways that workplace discrimination can be filed in Florida. A lawyer can explain whether to submit your case to the EEOC or the Florida Commission on Human Relations, depending on what laws were violated and the facts of your case.

Why It Is Important to Hire a Workplace Discrimination Lawyer

Experiencing workplace discrimination can be disheartening, frustrating, and stressful. By working with a Sanford workplace discrimination lawyer, you can focus on moving forward while knowing that your case is being handled effectively.

Working with a lawyer can increase your chances of achieving a fair outcome. Employers often try to avoid liability and minimize payouts in a workplace discrimination case. A lawyer can gather evidence of your losses, negotiate with your employer, represent you during hearings, and pursue the full compensation you deserve.

FAQs

What Is Considered Discrimination in the Workplace?

Workplace discrimination is any negative action that is taken because of an employee’s or applicant’s protected characteristic, such as race, religion, sex, or age. Usually, adverse actions that are considered discrimination include an employer making decisions regarding hiring, promotions, pay, job assignments, or termination based on an employee’s protected characteristic.

How Do You Investigate Discrimination in the Workplace?

Investigating discrimination in the workplace can begin by reviewing evidence such as:

• Emails and text messages
• Performance evaluations
• Discipline records
• Witness statements
• Company policies

If you find evidence of discrimination, bring it to the attention of a supervisor or HR. Your employer has a responsibility to investigate and address discrimination. However, if the issue is not resolved, you should hire a workplace discrimination lawyer to gather more in-depth evidence and evaluate whether you can file a claim.

Can You File a Claim for Disability Discrimination?

Yes, if you have experienced disability discrimination, you do have the right to file a claim against your employer. Disability discrimination often involves:

• Unfair treatment
• Denial of reasonable accommodations
• Harassment because of your disability or use of accommodations

In the past year, 9% of disabled adults reported experiencing unfair treatment at work, making disability discrimination a common workplace discrimination case.

What Is Retaliation in a Workplace Discrimination Case?

In workplace discrimination cases, retaliation involves an employer taking adverse action against an employee because they engaged in a legally protected activity, such as: 

• Filing a complaint of discrimination
• Participating in an investigation into discrimination
• Filing a claim against the employer

Retaliation can take many forms, including:

• Harassment
• Reduced pay or hours
• Negative performance reviews
• Termination

Reach Out to a Trusted Sanford Workplace Discrimination Attorney

If you may have been discriminated against by an employer, a lawyer can investigate your case, explain your options, and pursue the outcome you deserve. Contact the Law Offices of Gary A. Costales, P.A., to set up a confidential consultation and take the first step toward seeking justice in the workplace.