Discrimination

To contact Donna Ballman regarding a news story or speaking engagement about discrimination or a discrimination lawsuit, email her at ballmand@ballmanfirm.com . Donna Ballman is not accepting new employment law matters.

Donna M. Ballman has written two books, taught many seminars, workshops and continuing education classes on the topic of employment law.

Florida deadlines to file a charge of discrimination are short. In Florida, you only have 300 days from the date of discrimination to file with EEOC and 365 days to file with the Florida Commission on Human Relations. For sexual orientation claims, and claims against employers with fewer than 15 employees, you may have to proceed under a county or city ordinance with shorter deadlines, such as 180 days.

Filing with EEOC and FCHR is not a lawsuit, but it is a requirement before you can file most discrimination lawsuits. If you miss your deadline or don’t file the proper claims, you may lose your right to sue for discrimination. To locate an employee-side employment attorney, go to http://exchange.nela.org/findalawyer.

Some of the kinds of discrimination and harassment cases we have handled include claims based on:

• Sexual orientation
• Gender
• Age
• Religion
• National origin
• Disability
• Pregnancy
• Sexual harassment
• Genetic information
• Marital status
• Race/color
• Sex

If a person less qualified than you is hired or promoted to a position you sought, you might have a discrimination claim if that person was of a different race, age, sex, national origin, religion, etc., than you.

If you file a complaint of employment discrimination or sexual harassment, you may experience retaliation on the part of your employer—retaliation such as wrongful termination or demotion. If that happens, it is essential that you contact a lawyer knowledgeable about employee rights. To locate an employee-side employment attorney, go to http://exchange.nela.org/findalawyer.

Below are articles Ms. Ballman has written or been quoted in regarding employee rights during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• New Paid Sick Leave And Family Leave Law For Coronavirus
• Yes, Age Discrimination Is Still Illegal In A Pandemic
• What Are Your Employee Rights Regarding Coronavirus?
• CNN: You asked, we're answering: Your top coronavirus questions
• CNN: Your coronavirus workplace questions answered
• Sun Sentinel: Even with coronavirus spreading, some employees are forced to work in the office
• Ask A Manager: Can my employer demand to know the reason we're higher risk for coronavirus if we want to work from home?
• Sun-Sentinel: Is your employer putting you at risk for coronavirus? Here's what you can do
• Disability Discrimination and Accommodations During Coronavirus Pandemic

My manager shows up while I’m having chemotherapy to talk about work

Can You Bring Your Mother To a Meeting With #HR

Grow Up! Florida Legislators Need To Get Over Potty Issues

Sexual Orientation Discrimination Is Now Illegal Under Federal Law: Here’s How To Prove it

North Carolina Now Requires Men To Use Your Employer's Ladies' Room

Same-Sex Spouses Now Protected Under FMLA (But Not Civil Unions)

3 Ways To Prove You Weren't Hired Due To Age Discrimination

Can I Record My Boss To Prove Racist, Sexist Remarks?

I Was Sent Home From Work Sick, Then Fired

Gay Marriage Sweeps U.S.: How Does It Affect The Workplace And You?

Top 13 Workplace Legal Issues Of 2014

Do I Have To Obey A Bully?

Employment Law: What to Do When Your Boss Is Violating Your Rights

Best of: Employment Law With Donna Ballman

Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home: States With Pro-Employee Laws: Domestic Violence Victim Protection Against Discrimination.

Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home: States With Pro-Employee Laws: Discrimination Against Unemployed

Can I Be Sued For Slander For Reporting Sexual Harassment?

Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home: Now That Florida Has Gay Marriage, How Does That Affect Employee Rights?.

Do I Have To Put Up With Sexual Harassment By A Customer?

Can I Be Fired For Piercings That Were Okay Until They Changed The Dress Code?

Are 9 Sexual Harassment Cases And A Naked Dancing Video Cause For Firing? Maybe Not

How Do I Prove Sexual Harassment?

Can My Employer Ban Me From Speaking Spanish To Co-Workers?

9 Things Every Teen Should Know About Workplace Rights

What Every Teen Needs To Know About Sexual Harassment At Work

Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home: 6 Ways Same-Sex Marriage Will Affect Florida Employees

Who Do I Complain To About Discrimination If I'm HR?

Can My Employer Tell Me Where To Live?

Why Legal Marijuana Use Can Get You Fired

What Can I Do About Sexual Harassment At A Small Company?

AOL Jobs: I Was Late For Work With No Excuse And Was Fired And Now I Want To Sue

AOL Jobs: Am I Being Targeted For Layoff Due To My Age?

AOL Jobs: Do I Have To Disclose My Medical Condition To A Potential Employer?

AOL Jobs: Does Your Religion Excuse Homophobic, Racist or Sexist Behavior At Work?

AOL Jobs: Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson Surviving Doesn't Mean You Can Say Anything At Work

AOL Jobs: Can I Secretly Record a Conversation at Work?

Forbes: 11 Sneaky Ways Companies Get Rid Of Older Workers

AOL Jobs: ENDA (Banning Sexual Orientation Discrimination) Passes In Senate. What Will It Mean If It Becomes Law?

Don't Forget About Religious Discrimination When Throwing Your Office Halloween Party

AOL Jobs: 7 Ways To Protect Yourself If Your Boss Is a Bully

AOL Jobs: 5 Ways Your Workplace Bully May Be Breaking The Law

AOL Jobs: Pre-Employment Medical Exams: A New, Scary Kind Of Discrimination

AOL Jobs: Can You Be Fired For Calling In Sick – Even With A Doctor’s Note?

Top 6 Reasons Why Employment Laws Are Good For White Guys

AOL Jobs: 8 Ways Employers Can Discriminate Against Workers – Legally

Next Avenue: What to Know Before You Get Fired Or Laid Off

AOL Jobs: Seven Signs Of Discrimination Against Veterans At Work

AOL Jobs: How Do I Prove I’m Paid Less Than My Male Coworkers?

Top Six Illegal Policies In Your Employee Handbook

Can You Be Fired If You Are Sick After Your Vacation?

Transgendered Employees Are Protected Against Discrimination

Ask A Manager: We can be fired if our friends and family don’t follow the company’s religious values

Conjur.com: Juiz dos EUA diz que não é ilegal demitir mulher por ser bonita demais

WinWinHr: Employment Attorneys React to Supreme Court Decision in Mach Mining v. EEOC | WinWinHR

Inquisitr.com: Doctor Tells Off Patient’s Boss In Sick Note, Goes Viral Thanks To Reddit [Video]

Payscale.com: Horrible Company Policy Alert: Some Employers Require Doctor's Notes for Sick Days

HR Solutions Blog: Laying People Off With Dignity

U.S. News & World Report: When Is It OK to Quit Your Job Without Another Lined Up? - US News

CBS: When inappropriate texts aren't harassment

Lexology: What do American Apparel and the NBA have in common? Don’t ask Donald Sterling or Dov Charney |...

Sun-Sentinel: Judge dealing with alcoholism asks for pay during suspension

Marketwatch.com: What has (and hasn’t) changed since the Anita Hill case

AOL Jobs: Muslim Man Awarded $66,000 For Dismissal Over Beard Conflict

AOL Jobs: Nude Model Claims She Was Fired Because Of Her Work

Lawyers.com: Bank of America Fined $2.2M for Racial Discrimination

This Chair Rocks: Yo, Is This Ageist?

AARP: What to Do After You've Lost Your Job

AOL Jobs: Michigan Hospital Allegedly Bars Black Nurse From Touching White Patient

The Gainesville Sun: Former University of Florida director, Dana Peterson, alleges in suit he was denied position because he's white

Forbes: How To Quit Your Job The Right Way

Lawyers.com: In the Job Market, It Ain’t Easy Being Teen

Lawyers.com: Resort Company Sued for Firing Older Workers

Wall Street Journal: Age discrimination: Boomers are guilty, too

Zip Recruiter: How To Handle Illegal Job Interview And Application Questions

Lawyers.com: Male Caregivers Suffer Discrimination In The Workplace

Ask A Manager: Asking About Mental Illness In A Job Interview

AOL Jobs: Hospital Worker Fired For Refusing Flu Shot Cites Veganism

The Glass Hammer: No More Ms. Perfect

CBS: My Boss Says I Smell Bad

IT Business Edge: Do We Discriminate Against Fat People Because We Fear They’re Contagious?

CBS: Can Your Boss Tell You Who To Vote For?

Career Bliss: Human Resources – Advocate or Enemy?

JD Supra: Major League Manager Nowak Sues Team After Firing

Business News Daily: Can You Really Be Fired For Being Too Hot?

CBS: Do temporary workers have any rights?

Lawyers and Settlements: When Is Bullying and Harassment a Labor Law Violation?

Employment-Related Laws With Attorney Donna Ballman

Wage Theft, Independent Contractor Misclassification and Labor Law Issues with Donna Ballman

How To Stand Up For Yourself In A Hostile Workplace

A Conversation With Attorney & Author Donna Ballman