Workplace discrimination can happen in any workplace, regardless of the industry or sector. This was recently demonstrated right here in New Jersey as three attorneys general filed claims against the Attorney General’s Office, accusing officials there of systematic discrimination toward African-American employees.
The suit alleges that the Attorney General’s Office cultivates a culture that under-represents black employees in mid- and upper-level positions, despite the fact that the office maintains reasonable diversity at the very top levels. According to the suit, the three plaintiffs met with their superiors to discuss the issue and work together to create a path forward to a more diverse workplace at all levels of the institution. However, they claim that in the subsequent year since making these suggestions, little or no action has taken place to actively increase diversity of the office’s workforce.
Furthermore, the suit alleges that, while the office does hire a reasonable number of black employees, those employees are routinely passed over when it comes time for promotions. Specifically, the suit alleges that many of the positions get filled without ever being posted, and notes that one of the plaintiffs has served for over a decade to represent the Department of Child Protection and Permanency while being repeatedly passed over for promotions and paid less than colleagues who were not black and had less experience or fewer qualifications.
If you believe that you have experienced workplace discrimination, don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced attorney to help protect your rights. With proper legal counsel, you can ensure that your rights remain secure as you explore all of your options for pursuing justice in the workplace.
Source: NJ.com, “3 employees accuse N.J. Attorney General’s Office of race discrimination,” S.P. Sullivan, June 02, 2017
