Santa Fe Gender Discrimination Sexual Harassment & Equal Pay

Experiencing gender discrimination in the workplace can be a frustrating situation to find yourself in. If you are an employee in Santa Fe, federal and state laws provide protections against discrimination based on gender, including sexual harassment and pay disparity. Working with a Santa Fe gender discrimination, sexual harassment, & equal pay attorney can help alleviate some of the burden as you fight to obtain legal restitution for your suffering.

Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez, LLC is a distinguished law firm located in the heart of Santa Fe. We represent client interests in various employee discrimination matters, including gender discrimination. Our dedicated attorneys bring a breadth of knowledge to each sexual harassment and equal pay discrimination case.

Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez, LLC Defends Your Employee Rights

Choosing the right law firm to assist you in your gender discrimination case is crucial to your success. Partnering with one of our attorneys at Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez, LLC can give you peace of mind and assurance that a seasoned professional with decades of practice in New Mexico employment law is handling your case.

We offer our clients comprehensive legal support from start to finish. When you work with us, you get:

• The intimacy of a boutique law firm with the resources of a big law firm
• The guidance of a team with local knowledge, as we are located next to Santa Fe Plaza
• Assistance from skilled negotiators with a track record of success in New Mexico
• Compassionate representation where your interests guide our actions

If you suspect that you are facing gender discrimination in Santa Fe, including sexual harassment and equal pay discrimination, an initial consultation with our team can help shed light on your options.

Gender Discrimination in Santa Fe, New Mexico Explained

Employees in Santa Fe, New Mexico, are afforded protections against gender discrimination thanks to Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act and the New Mexico Human Rights Act of 1969, which adds additional protections to federal law. Moreover, the New Mexico Fair Pay for Women Act makes it unlawful to negotiate a lower pay rate with an employee based on their gender.

Examples of gender discrimination in the workplace can include:

Sexual harassment

• Quid Pro Quo – Promising a promotion or threatening to fire someone with the expectation of sexual favors.
• Physical Harassment – Unwanted touching or intentionally blocking someone’s path.
• Verbal Harassment – Making sexually explicit jokes or comments about a person’s appearance or repeatedly asking a coworker out after being rejected.
• Non-verbal harassment – Sending explicit messages or images through email or physical means, or making lewd/sexual gestures.

Equal pay discrimination

• Offering higher salaries to one employee over another of the opposite gender for the same work
• Paying an employee less despite their positive performance due to their gender
• Giving an employee a lesser title for the same role as their opposite-sex counterpart
• Disparity in work benefits based on an applicant’s or employee’s gender

Both men and women can experience gender discrimination, though women are disproportionately affected. A March 2024 report published by the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions found that women in the state who possessed a Bachelor’s degree earned approximately 11.8% less than their male counterparts. The disparity increased to 18.9% when looking at pay for those who possess a graduate degree.

Women are also more likely to be subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace. A 2016 report from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission explains that 60% of women surveyed throughout the United States had experienced some form of sexual harassment in the workplace. With an estimated female population of 51.7%, Santa Fe residents should be aware of the rights they and their loved ones have if they ever experience gender-based discrimination.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Employment Discrimination Law in New Mexico?

A: Employment discrimination laws in New Mexico protect employees and job applicants against unfair treatment at the workplace based on protected characteristics, including sex, race, religion, age, disability, and gender. These laws include Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the New Mexico Human Rights Act of 1969.
There is also the New Mexico Fair Pay for Women Act, which makes it unlawful for employees to be paid less than their opposite-sex counterparts for equal pay.

Q: What Is Gender-Based Discrimination?

A: Gender-based discrimination is a type of employment discrimination in which a person is treated unfairly based on their gender. Examples of gender-based discrimination include sexual harassment in the form of sexual jokes or lewd comments or gestures, as well as asking for sexual favors in return for benefits at work. Gender discrimination also manifests as pay disparity, where one gender receives less pay than the opposite sex for equal work.

Q: How Can a Santa Fe Gender Discrimination Attorney Help?

A: A Santa Fe gender discrimination attorney can help in various ways. They can assist you with assessing the merits of your gender discrimination complaint. Once they review the facts of your case, they can help you prepare and submit your claim with the EEOC or the New Mexico Department of Workplace Solutions.

Q: How Do I Prove Harassment at Work in New Mexico?

A: To prove harassment at work in New Mexico, you should provide evidence of the harassment, including messages, emails, witness accounts, or any other proof that an incident or incidents took place and constituted harassment based on a protected class. It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible if you believe you are being subjected to gender discrimination or harassment at the workplace, to increase the likelihood of success in your case.

Consult a Compassionate Gender Discrimination Attorney Today

It can be unsettling to face gender discrimination at work, especially if it involves an imbalance of power. You should not be afraid to speak up for your rights. With the assistance of a Santa Fe Gender Discrimination attorney from Egolf + Ferlic + Martinez, LLC, you can feel secure that your case is handled with the compassion and dedication it deserves. If you live in Santa Fe, New Mexico, schedule a consultation to discuss your gender discrimination case with our team.