This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Employment Discrimination issues in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Know Your Employment Rights!
Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on employment rights including wages, unemployment compensation, family and medical leave, discrimination, workplace injuries, and unions. (January 2014)
Americans with Disabilities Act
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. (February 2019)
Reporting Workplace Sexual Harassment in Pennsylvania
Experiencing workplace sexual harassment — whether it is verbal or physical — is never your fault. You have options. You do not have to go through this alone. This guide brings together information and resources on how to identify and report workplace harassment.
Filing a Charge of Employment Discrimination
Description of the process to be followed to file a charge of employment discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Filing an Employment Discrimination Charge - A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers
A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers. This Packet Contains a Basic Information Brief: Employer Sanctions and Discrimination; Sample I-9 Form; Practical Tips on Dealing with a Discriminatory Employer; How to File a Discrimination Charge; Instructions on Filling out the Charge Form; and Sample Charge and Complaint Forms.
Federal Court Finder
Find a federal court location by location or court name, including appellate, district, bankruptcy, probation and pretrial office, or federal defender organization. Each District Court has its own local forms which are generally available on the Court website.
Filing an Employment Discrimination Charge - A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers
A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers. This Packet Contains a Basic Information Brief: Employer Sanctions and Discrimination; Sample I-9 Form; Practical Tips on Dealing with a Discriminatory Employer; How to File a Discrimination Charge; Instructions on Filling out the Charge Form; and Sample Charge and Complaint Forms.
A Guide to Employment Discrimination
Information from Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. on your legal rights when you find yourself being discriminated against based on race, color, national origin, gender (including sexual harassment), religion, age (if over 40), disability, or sexual orientation. (August 2008)
Employment Discrimination
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association on discrimination in the workplace.
Workers with Disabilities
Information from Neighborhood Legal Services Association about the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act for workers with disabilities
Discrimination and Erie Human Relations Commission (Audio-MP3)
Episode of Northwestern Legal Services' "Access to Justice" Radio show broadcast on JET 1400 AM in Erie, PA on 3-27-2008. Information regarding discrimination, specifically relating to education, housing and sexual orientation, how to file a complaint with the Erie (PA) Human Relations Commission.
Know Your Employment Rights!
Information from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia on employment rights including wages, unemployment compensation, family and medical leave, discrimination, workplace injuries, and unions. (January 2014)
Legal Help for LGBTQ+ Individuals
Community Legal Services (CLS) provides free legal assistance in civil matters for low-income residents of Philadelphia. We are strong advocates for our clients, including LGBTQ+ individuals, when they face the threat of losing their homes, incomes, health care, and even their families. We work on many legal issues including eviction, mortgage foreclosure, criminal record expungements, Medicaid, Food Stamps, and other public benefits, SSI, employment, utilities, and housing problems for people who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.
Overcoming Barriers to Employment
Information from MidPenn Legal Services discussing barriers to employment, specifically mental health issues and interview questions
Americans with Disabilities Act
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. (February 2019)
Discrimination
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on discrimination in employment and housing from the Erie County Bar Association. (February 2019)
Sexual Harassment
Information from the Erie County Bar Association on sexual harassment in the workplace.
Filing an Employment Discrimination Charge - A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers
A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers. This Packet Contains a Basic Information Brief: Employer Sanctions and Discrimination; Sample I-9 Form; Practical Tips on Dealing with a Discriminatory Employer; How to File a Discrimination Charge; Instructions on Filling out the Charge Form; and Sample Charge and Complaint Forms.
A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment
Find answers to questions about employment rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act in this A Guide for People with Disabilities Seeking Employment from the U.S. Department of Justice. Webpage and PDF Version. (October 2000)
EEOC Publications
Listing of publications from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on a variety of subjects relating to equal employment opportunity and employment discrimination.
Federal Laws Prohibiting Job Discrimination - Questions And Answers
Information from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on the federal laws covering job discrimination and what discriminatory practices are prohibited by these laws.
Filing a Charge of Employment Discrimination
Description of the process to be followed to file a charge of employment discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Questions and Answers About Race and Color Discrimination in Employment
These questions and answers are adapted from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Compliance Manual Section on Race and Color Discrimination. For more detailed information about race and color discrimination, you may review the Race and Color Section on the EEOC's website or call 1-800-669-3362 to request a free copy of the Race and Color Section of the web site.
Race and Color Discrimination - EEOC Compliance Manual
This Manual Section from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Compliance Manual provides guidance on analyzing charges of race and color discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Background Checks: What Job Applicants and Employees Should Know
Some employers look into your background before deciding whether to hire you, or before deciding whether you can keep your job. When they do, you have legal rights. This publication from the Federal Trade Commission explains the laws that protect you, and how to contact the FTC and EEOC if you think an employer has broken the law. [PDF]
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission Website
The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is mandated to enforce the Commonwealth's laws that prohibit discrimination because of race, color, religion, ancestry, age (40 and above), sex, national origin, non-job related disability, known association with a disabled individual, possession of a diploma based on passing a general education development test and familial status.
Understanding Your Employment Rights Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): A Guide for Veterans
This guide from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is intended to answer questions you may have about your rights as an injured veteran, now that you have left the service and are returning to a civilian job or seeking a new job. It also explains the kinds of adjustments (called reasonable accommodations) that may help you be successful in the workplace.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Website
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was established by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and began operating on July 2, 1965. The EEOC enforces various federal statutes relating to discrimination.
Reporting Workplace Sexual Harassment in Pennsylvania
Experiencing workplace sexual harassment — whether it is verbal or physical — is never your fault. You have options. You do not have to go through this alone. This guide brings together information and resources on how to identify and report workplace harassment.
Combating Employment Discrimination Through the Americans with Disabilities Act (PDF)
Information from Disability Rights Pennsylvania on the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding employment discrimination. [PDF] (February 2018)
Employment Publications from the Disability Rights Pennsylvania
Publications about disability and employment from the Disability Rights Pennsylvania.
Reasonable Accommodations in Employment (PDF)
The Fact Sheet from Disability Rights Pennsylvania addresses the duty of employers to provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act. [PDF] (February 2018)
Publications from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
List of Publications from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. The Bazelon Center produces reports, issue papers, and manuals that analyze major federal laws, policies, and regulations that affect access to services and the rights of people with mental disabilities.
Filing an Employment Discrimination Charge - A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers
A Do-It-Yourself Packet for Immigrant Workers. This Packet Contains a Basic Information Brief: Employer Sanctions and Discrimination; Sample I-9 Form; Practical Tips on Dealing with a Discriminatory Employer; How to File a Discrimination Charge; Instructions on Filling out the Charge Form; and Sample Charge and Complaint Forms.