Workplace discrimination can be as disheartening and upsetting as it may be financially damaging. Knowing how to document the incidents of discrimination, however, can be integral to taking action and positioning a future discrimination case for success. And this, in turn, can be the key to obtaining justice and succeeding in your financial recovery.
So, if you believe you have been discriminated against at work, here’s what you can do to start appropriately documenting what occurs and, in doing so, gather important evidence for a future case.
Documenting Workplace Discrimination: What to Record in Your Log
When developing a log to record incidents of workplace discrimination, be sure to note:
- When and where the incident occurred – Specifically, note the day, date, time and exact location of where the discriminatory action took place. These details can be easy to forget later, especially if multiple discriminatory incidents take place, and documenting these details can help establish a pattern of discrimination.
- Who the harasser was and what happened – Note the name of the person(s) who discriminated against you and exactly why you believe the incident constitutes discrimination.
- Whether there were any witnesses – Note the names of these people if there were witnesses and encourage them to write down what they saw or overheard. Although some people may not want to get involved, others may be willing to report the discriminatory incident, so it never hurts to ask.
- Whether you filed a complaint with your employer – And if you did, note when you filed this complaint, who received the complaint from you and whether any further investigation or action was taken.
Documenting Workplace Discrimination: More Important Info
- Try to document incidents ASAP after they occur – This can prevent you from forgetting any critical details about what happened.
- Keep any emails or other correspondence – If the discriminatory actions are evidenced or discussed in emails, keep all of these, and consider making a backup copy (in case you are unable to access the electronic versions of these emails in the future for any reason).
- Consider mailing written reports to yourself – An easy way to unofficially “notarize” a report or document can be to send it to yourself in the mail and then never open the letter/envelope until after you consult with an attorney. This step can help prove that you wrote certain records about specific incidents on certain days (rather than developing your report months later).
Contact an Atlanta Discrimination Lawyer at the Law Firm of Barrett & Farahany, LLP
If you have been the target of workplace discrimination, you can turn to an experienced Atlanta discrimination lawyer at the Law Firm of Barrett & Farahany, LLP for aggressive legal advocacy and the highest quality legal services.
To learn more about our services and how we can assist you, contact us today by calling (404) 238-7299 or by emailing us using the contact form at the bottom of this screen.
From our offices based in Atlanta, our trusted attorneys provide superior representation and legal service to people throughout Georgia, including those in Decatur, Scottdale, Clarkston, Avondale Estates, Pine Lake, Stone Mountain, Tucker, Smyrna, Conley, Marietta, Mableton, Forest Park, Ellenwood, Red Oak, Austell, Lithia Springs, Morrow, Lithonia, Rex, Riverdale, Clayton County, Cobb County, Dekalb County and Douglas County.
