Human Rights Lawyer in Vancouver

PROVIDING ESSENTIAL LEGAL SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION

British Columbia has a Human Rights Code that clearly defines the fundamental rights of all citizens in the province. The Human Rights Code prohibits employers from discriminating against potential employees in the hiring process and while on the job. The Human Rights Code also requires that individuals receive equal pay regardless of gender. Recently, the code has been amended through human rights legislation to include gender identity or sexual orientation among the protected areas covered by the Code.

However, even though the BC Human Rights Code has been implemented, human rights violations still occur. If you feel your rights have been violated, you must hire an experienced human rights lawyer who can act as your legal advocate.

Labour Rights Law of Vancouver, British Columbia, is a law firm dedicated to providing citizens with quality legal representation and protecting their rights. Contact our human rights lawyers and ask to schedule a consultation to learn more about how our legal services can help you receive the justice you deserve.

HOW DOES THE BRITISH COLUMBIA HUMAN RIGHTS CODE PROTECT EMPLOYEES?

The BC Human Rights Code was established to protect British Columbia citizens from discrimination in specific areas of daily life. In British Columbia, human rights law protects employees in the following areas:

• Race/color
• Ancestry and place of origin
• Religion
• Political beliefs
• Sexual orientation
• Physical or mental disability

However, not all employers adhere to the BC’s Human Rights Code standards. Some common examples include refusing to hire someone because of a mental or physical disability, refusing to accommodate an employee for a religious observance, sexual harassment, or women not being paid the same amount of money as their male counterparts for the same job.

Employers are obligated by law to ensure that the workplace is free of discrimination and that employment decisions are based on standards related to the job in question. Additionally, when conducting interviews, employers should only ask questions that refer to the applicant’s skills and abilities.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A VALID HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINT?

It often becomes necessary for victims to take legal action to protect themselves from harassment and other forms of discrimination in the workplace. However, before filing a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal, you must determine whether or not your rights were violated.

Specific legal standards must be met if you feel that you have been subject to workplace discrimination. All of the following legal standards must be present to file a complaint:

• You have been treated poorly and differently from other employees based on gender, race, colour, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or mental or physical disability.
• The treatment occurred in the workplace, or a situation related to work,

However, employees need to keep in mind that not every negative comment is a violation of human rights law. Be that as it may, knowing if your situation meets the criteria needed to file a complaint can often be challenging.

Nevertheless, when an individual faces discrimination or feels threatened in the workplace, and the employer does nothing to stop it, the employee has the right to file a complaint with the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

Our human rights lawyers can provide clients with legal assistance and representation and as they complain to the tribunal. Even though it is not required that individuals have legal representation, it is always best to have a lawyer on your side to protect your rights.

DO I NEED A LAWYER TO HELP ME FILE A HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINT?

Although individuals are not required to have human rights lawyers assist them with filing complaints to the Tribunal, it is always best to have legal representation. The process of having your human rights complaint accepted to be heard in front of the BC Human Rights Tribunal can be long and tedious. However, if accepted, you can tell your side of the story.

Most individuals who file human rights complaints and are approved to hear their cases lack sufficient legal training. For this reason, it is in your best interest to hire a human rights lawyer who can assist you with building your case and understands the intricacies of the law. A human rights lawyer can assist you with gathering evidence and putting together a solid case to present to the Tribunal.

Additionally, other benefits of having an experienced human rights lawyer are they have an understanding of the various protocols that must be followed when presenting a case to the Tribunal, which include:

• Being well informed regarding the case issues and the party they represent.
• Knowing and complying with all Tribunal Rules of Procedure.
• Keeping all information confidential.
• Presenting evidence that is relevant to the case.

Contact Labour Rights Law of British Columbia immediately to schedule a meeting with a qualified legal team member who will gladly review your employment matter and advise you of your legal options.

WHY SHOULD I HIRE YOUR HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER TO HELP ME RESOLVE MY LEGAL ISSUES?

Our law firm has a proven record of achieving favorable client results. We understand how important your career is to you and how frustrating it can be not to be given the fair treatment and respect you deserve.

Our legal team uses the knowledge we have developed over the years to represent clients who have had their rights violated. While other law firms often focus on how much money they can gain from clients, our team takes a more personal approach. Labour Rights Law was the first law firm in the area to deal with employment and labour law.

In many instances, our law firm has been able to negotiate out-of-court settlements through mediation or arbitration.

If you want to discuss your potential human rights violation case, contact Labour Rights Law of Vancouver, BC, to learn how our human rights lawyers may be able to assist you.