Title IX Employment Discrimination Lawyer

Title IX is a set of federal laws aimed at preventing discrimination “on the basis of sex” in educational programs and institutions that receive federal funding.  This generally covers high schools and colleges, as well as other institutions like museums and libraries.  Typically, Title IX is used to protect students from sex discrimination, but it also works to protect employees of those institutions from employment discrimination.

If you were unfairly discriminated against on the basis of sex or gender while working at an educational institution, contact our Title IX employment discrimination lawyer today.  The Law Office of Andrew Shubin fights for the rights of educators and school employees to get them fair and just treatment and compensation in cases of tenure discrimination, sexual harassment, and other sex and gender discrimination in the workplace.  For your free legal consultation, call our law offices today at (814) 826-3586.

How Title IX Protects College, University, and High School Employees

Title IX bans discrimination “on the basis of sex” in educational programs and institutions.  While employment discrimination cases are typically handled under separate legislation known as Title VII, victims of workplace sex discrimination at high schools, colleges, universities, and other federally funded institutions and programs can typically file claims under Title IX instead.

Title IX protects against any sex discrimination, which broadly covers many different types of mistreatment or inappropriate treatment.  Sex discrimination and gender discrimination can involve pure and simple discrimination, where women are overlooked for promotions, hiring, tenure, funding, positions on boards and counsels, or other opportunities because of their sex or gender.  Sex discrimination can also include sexual harassment, whether it be quid pro quo sexual harassment (exchange or request of sexual favors for work benefits) or hostile workplace sexual harassment (rude or lewd comments, bullying, or safety concerns based on the victim’s sex).

Many cases of sex discrimination are more properly classified as “gender discrimination.”  These cases might arise for teachers and professors who are trans or otherwise identify as LGBTQ+.  Additionally, discrimination based on gender or gender presentation could occur.  These issues can include bullying or harassment by coworkers or authority figures in the institution based on your appearance or their expectations about your sex, and these types of discrimination are similarly illegal.

One area of sex discrimination that often arises for teachers involves issues surrounding pregnancy.  It is typically illegal for federally funded institutions to deny leave to an employee because of their pregnancy, childbirth, abortion, or loss of pregnancy.  It is similarly illegal to discriminate in hiring practices by using pregnancy or potential future pregnancy against the applicant.

Filing a Title IX Lawsuit for Sex Discrimination at Work

If you work at a college, university, public high school, private high school, or certain museums, libraries, and other institutions, you likely qualify for protections under Title IX.  Most of these institutions receive at least some federal funding and are subject to the laws against sex and gender discrimination enshrined in Title IX.

Title IX gives victims of discrimination a “private cause of action,” which means that they can file a lawsuit to seek damages for this kind of discrimination.  In addition to being able to file a claim with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, you can file a private civil claim against the institution for its discrimination.

When filing a lawsuit, you will have to prove your claim in court to seek compensation – or arrive at a settlement with the institution.  To win your claim in court, you must convince a jury that is more likely than not that you were discriminated against on the basis of sex.  The difficulty of this task will depend heavily on the facts of the case, but your attorney can help you through the process by fighting to get evidence, holding depositions, and piecing together the evidence and testimony that will provide you with a strong case.

In many cases, educational institutions do not want public attention for sex discrimination cases.  Because of this, many colleges, universities, and private institutions will offer to settle your claim out of court.  It is vital to work with an attorney who can help you understand what your claim should be worth before settling your case or accepting any money.

The results of a sex discrimination lawsuit can vary greatly.  The relief you request in your case will change depending on the harm you suffered.  For instance, the relief for discrimination that resulted in you being passed over for a job or a promotion should include compensation for the salary and wages you were unfairly denied.  Relief in other cases might include being given employment benefits or positions you were previously denied if you still want to work for the institution.  For example, this could mean reinstating you to a position you were unfairly fired from or granting you tenure (and the retroactive benefits of tenure) in a claim for tenure discrimination.

In cases of sexual harassment and other cases where the harm has already been done, the damages are often monetary.  Talk to a lawyer about what your case might be worth.

Call Our Lawyer for Sex Discrimination and Title IX Claims for School Employees

If you suffered sex or gender discrimination while working at a school or educational institution, you may be entitled to file a Title IX claim against your employer.  For a free legal consultation and help learning more about your potential claim, call The Law Office of Andrew Shubin today.  Our Title IX employment discrimination lawyer may be able to take your sex discrimination claim and get you financial compensation, reinstatement, tenure, and other benefits you were unfairly denied.  For your free consultation, call us today at (814) 826-3586.