NYC Racial Discrimination Lawyer

Racial discrimination continues to impact workers across New York City despite decades of legal progress. Whether it appears through unequal treatment, denial of promotions, or the use of racial slurs or offensive comments, discrimination based on race, national origin, or skin color remains a persistent and harmful issue in workplaces throughout the city. Employees who experience such conduct often suffer not just economic harm, such as lost wages, but also lasting emotional distress and professional setbacks.

At Greenberg Gross LLP, our legal team is committed to standing with individuals who have experienced racial discrimination at work. We represent workers from all racial groups who have faced hostility, retaliation, or exclusion based on race or ethnicity. Our law firm understands how damaging these experiences can be, and we work to ensure our clients receive the justice, compensation, and workplace reforms they deserve.

Understanding Racial Discrimination in Employment

Racial discrimination occurs when an individual is treated unfairly in the workplace because of their race, color, or national origin. This treatment can involve any part of the employment process, including hiring, job assignments, pay decisions, promotion practices, and termination. It may also take the form of a hostile work environment created through offensive comments, discriminatory policies, or ongoing racial slurs.

Race discrimination is prohibited under federal and state laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. These laws apply to both private and public employers in New York and are enforced by agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the New York State Division of Human Rights. Discrimination based on a person’s association with a particular group, or because of cultural practices, is also prohibited under these statutes.

Whether the discrimination is overt or rooted in systemic employment practices, it is unlawful and can give rise to a legal claim.

How to Prove Racial Discrimination

Proving racial discrimination often involves a combination of witness statements, circumstantial evidence, written communications, and statistical data. Many cases also rely on showing that similarly situated employees of a different race were treated more favorably. For example, a worker may demonstrate that they were denied a promotion given to a less qualified individual of a different race, or that they were subjected to stricter discipline for the same conduct as another employee.

Employers may try to disguise discriminatory intent under the guise of business necessity or claim that decisions were based on job performance alone. However, experienced racial discrimination lawyers know how to challenge these explanations and uncover discriminatory practices or patterns. At Greenberg Gross LLP, we help clients build strong, fact-based cases that highlight unequal treatment and discriminatory decision-making.

Legal Protections for New York Employees

Federal and state laws offer multiple avenues of protection for workers who face race discrimination. Title VII bars employers from basing employment decisions on an individual’s race, while the New York Human Rights Law expands these protections to cover more employers and broader circumstances. These laws also protect employees who report discrimination or participate in investigations.

If a worker can show that a discriminatory policy or practice has harmed them because of their race, national origin, or color, they may be entitled to remedies including back pay, punitive damages, compensation for emotional distress, and changes to the employer’s practices. Employees also have the right to recover compensation for legal fees and costs associated with pursuing their case.

At Greenberg Gross LLP, we represent workers in all phases of a race discrimination case, from the initial consultation to filing a formal complaint and navigating the legal process. Our employment discrimination attorneys work closely with clients to document what occurred, gather supporting evidence, and take action when discrimination occurred.

How Racial Discrimination Affects the Workplace

Workplace discrimination based on race affects not only the individuals targeted but also the overall work environment. It undermines employee morale, damages professional relationships, and can lead to a loss of trust in leadership. In severe cases, it creates a hostile work environment that no one should be forced to endure.

Victims of discrimination may experience reduced opportunities for advancement, unequal pay, or exclusion from important assignments. They may also be isolated from other employees or subjected to unwarranted discipline. The emotional toll of this treatment can be significant, resulting in anxiety, depression, or long-term career disruption.

Employers are responsible for preventing discrimination and responding to complaints appropriately. When they fail to act, or when discriminatory intent can be shown through their actions, they may be held liable under federal and state law.

What to Do If You Experience Racial Discrimination

If you believe you are experiencing race discrimination at work, it is important to act quickly. Begin by keeping detailed records of the incidents, including dates, witnesses, and any written communications. If you feel safe doing so, report the behavior to a supervisor or human resources department.

If your employer does not respond appropriately or if retaliation follows your report, you may need legal support. Greenberg Gross LLP offers a free consultation to help you understand your rights and explore your legal options. Our attorneys are committed to helping you recover compensation and protect your professional future.

We handle race discrimination cases involving unequal pay, racial slurs, failure to promote, wrongful termination, hostile work environments, and more. Whether you have direct evidence or rely on circumstantial evidence, we will help you build a case that highlights the discriminatory practices at play and advocates for a favorable outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies as racial discrimination in the workplace?

Racial discrimination includes any unfair treatment based on a person’s race, skin color, or national origin. This can include biased hiring, unequal pay, wrongful termination, or repeated offensive comments in the workplace.

Can I file a legal claim for discrimination even if the actions were subtle?

Yes. Many discrimination cases are proven through circumstantial evidence. If you have been treated differently than employees of a different race in similar situations, you may have grounds for a claim.

What should I do if my employer ignores my complaint?

If your employer fails to act after you report discrimination, you should speak to an experienced racial discrimination attorney. You may be able to pursue legal action through federal or state agencies, or file a lawsuit.

How can I prove discriminatory intent?

Discriminatory intent can be shown through patterns of unequal treatment, witness statements, written communications, or statistical disparities in how employees are treated based on race.

What types of damages can I recover?

You may be eligible for lost wages, compensation for emotional distress, punitive damages in certain cases, and legal fees. Each case is different, and an attorney can help evaluate what damages apply to your situation.