All employees in Massachusetts are “at-will” employees, meaning that they can quit at any time or be fired anytime, as long as the reasons are legally valid.  Discrimination is an exception to “at-will” employment, meaning that it is not lawful for an employer to treat a worker differently than others or target them for a negative action at work.  Discrimination law protects current, former, and even prospective workers.  

In order to enforce discrimination laws, the employee must be part of a protected class:  race, national origin or ethnicity, skin color, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, pregnancy, and age are all protected classes.  

Proving discrimination requires the careful gathering of evidence of the unfair treatment, including proof of motive or bias, inequality compared to other workers, or violations of the common practices or policies of the employer.   

Anyone who has been discriminated against at work should file a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination or the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to protect their rights. We help our clients file complaints and navigate this difficult area of law to enforce any of the many federal and state discrimination laws.