Labor and Employment Law
What it is: Workplace discrimination covers unequal or unfair treatment in hiring, pay, assignment, promotion, training, or dismissal based on protected grounds such as sex, age, disability, health status, marital status, or pregnancy, prohibited by the Labor Code and special laws including the Anti-Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, and the Safe Spaces Act. Related laws also protect against discrimination based on solo parenthood and certain health conditions. When it applies: You may have a claim if you were paid less than others for the same work, passed over for advancement, harassed, or dismissed because of a protected characteristic, or if you were subjected to a hostile or intimidating work environment. Sexual harassment and gender-based online or in-person harassment at work are distinct but closely related concerns that often arise together. How a lawyer helps: A labor lawyer assesses which law applies to your situation, gathers evidence of unequal or unlawful treatment, and files a complaint before the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) or the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC), or a criminal or administrative case where harassment is involved. The lawyer can seek damages, reinstatement, back wages, or other appropriate relief, and can guide you in using your company's internal grievance mechanism. First steps: Document each incident with dates, witnesses, photos, and communications, keep your employment records, payslips, and performance reviews, and consult a lawyer to choose the right forum and the most effective remedy for your case.
