Discrimination

No one should have to endure unfair treatment at work—especially when that mistreatment is based on who you are. At Fortis Employment Law, I represent employees across Maryland who’ve experienced discrimination on the job. Whether you’ve been passed over for a promotion, harassed by a supervisor, or even fired, you may have a legal claim if the reason ties back to your race, gender, age, disability, or another protected trait.

If you’re searching for a Maryland employment discrimination lawyer, I’m here to help you understand your rights, evaluate your case, and take the next step forward.

What Counts as Workplace Discrimination? 

Workplace discrimination happens when your employer treats you unfairly because of a protected characteristic. That unfair treatment can take many forms—not just hiring or firing decisions.

Discrimination might look like:

• Being paid less than colleagues doing the same work

• Getting stuck with worse shifts or assignments

• Being excluded from training or advancement opportunities

• Receiving harsher discipline than others

• Having your requests for reasonable accommodation ignored

• Dealing with repeated, demeaning comments or jokes

• Getting fired for reasons that don’t make sense

If something feels off—and you believe it might relate to your identity—it’s worth having a conversation. Many employees wait too long because they’re unsure whether what they experienced “counts.” Let’s talk and figure it out together.

Protected Characteristics Under Federal and Maryland Law

Both federal law and Maryland law protect employees from discrimination based on:

• Race and Color

• National Origin

• Religion

• Sex and Gender Identity (including pregnancy and sexual orientation)

• Age (for employees 40 and over)

• Disability (physical or mental conditions that substantially limit a major life activity)

• Marital Status

• Genetic Information

• Military Status or Service

In Maryland, additional protections exist through the Maryland Fair Employment Practices Act, and local jurisdictions like Montgomery County and Baltimore City may provide even broader coverage.

Common Types of Discrimination I See

While discrimination can occur in many ways, here are some of the most common patterns I help clients address:

Racial Discrimination

Racial bias still shows up in many workplaces—whether through overt slurs or more subtle forms of exclusion. If you’re being treated differently or less favorably because of your race or skin color, or facing retaliation for speaking up, that’s illegal under both state and federal law.

Sex, Gender & Pregnancy Discrimination

If you’ve been treated unfairly due to your gender identity, experienced sexual harassment, or felt pushed out of your job after announcing a pregnancy, you may have a claim. Employers must also provide reasonable accommodations for pregnancy-related conditions.

Disability Discrimination & Failure to Accommodate

You have the right to ask for reasonable accommodations to help you do your job. If your employer refuses to engage in a good faith interactive process, denies your request outright, or retaliates against you for asking, that may be discrimination under the ADA or Maryland law.

Age Discrimination

Older workers often face unfair stereotypes and biased employment decisions. If you’re over 40 and suspect you were passed over, laid off, or pushed out because of your age, let’s talk.

Religious Discrimination

Your employer must accommodate your sincerely held religious beliefs unless doing so would create an undue hardship. Discrimination based on religion can include schedule conflicts, dress codes, or biased remarks.

What to Do If You Suspect Discrimination

If you think you’ve been discriminated against, it’s important to act quickly. Here’s what I recommend:

1. Document everything. Save emails, performance reviews, notes from conversations, and timelines of key events.

2. Request clarification. If you’re disciplined, denied leave, or terminated, ask for a written explanation.

3. Contact me. I offer a free consultation to discuss your situation confidentially. If it sounds like a viable claim, I’ll offer a deeper, free case review—where I can review your documents and timeline.

How I Help as a Maryland Employment Discrimination Lawyer

When you work with Fortis Employment Law, you work directly with me. I handle every case personally, with a focus on honest communication, clear strategy, and a fair fee model.

Through my Fortis Flex™ pricing, you’ll pay a flat monthly fee that covers all standard case costs—with no hourly billing or surprise invoices—and I only earn a contingency if we win.