Moving discrimination law forward

South Carolina is an at-will employment state.

This means companies can fire you for a good reason, a bad reason or no reason at all with certain exceptions.

What they can’t do, though, is discriminate. That’s been the case since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and it’s evolved through cases decided and additional laws passed since then.

A company can’t fire you, refuse to hire you, pay you less, demote you, or refuse to promote you because of your sex, gender, age, national origin, race, color, ethnicity, or religion. Businesses can’t create or allow a hostile work environment that forces you to leave. Employers can’t retaliate against you for making a compliant related to discrimination. In certain jurisdictions – Richland County, the city of Columbia, and the City of Charleston, for example – you’re also protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation.

And while all of this is illegal, sadly, it still happens.

Battling discrimination

At Burnette Shutt & McDaniel, we know we won’t eliminate discrimination, but we are intensely committed to battling it on every front. Our lawyers are passionate about protecting people from discrimination in any form. We’ve helped people fight for their jobs, and we’ve helped them win promotions or raises they were denied.

Our attorneys have taken cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SCHAC). We’ve also worked through grievance procedures for public employees. We’ve taken cases to court. We realize that each situation takes a different approach, and we have the experience to adapt.

We also have the legal knowledge and research skills to build the strongest possible case. Should you decided to consider a settlement offer, this prep work can put you in a better negotiating position. Should you decide to go to trial, we’ll be ready for that, too.