What kind of discrimination is illegal in the workplace?

It is illegal for employers in West Virginia to discriminate against their employees or job applicants based on their age, disability, genetic information, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, or earlier salary history. This is known as prohibited discrimination, and it is a violation of Federal laws, as well as West Virginia state laws. Under the West Virginia Human Rights Act, employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees or job applicants based on their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, age (40 and over), disability, religion, or certain genetic information. Employers are also prohibited from discriminating against employees or job applicants based on their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Other forms of prohibited discrimination in the workplace include retaliation for filing a discrimination complaint or participating in a discrimination investigation, as well as harassment based on any of the protected classes listed above. Employers are expected to provide an environment that is free of discrimination, and to treat all employees and job applicants fairly. If someone believes they have been discriminated against in the workplace, they should contact the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the West Virginia Human Rights Commission (WVHRC) to file a complaint.

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