Founder
When most people think of workplace discrimination, they think of race, disability, gender, or age. But another form of discrimination prohibited under Florida law involves marital status. The Florida Civil Rights Act (FCRA) prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against employees or applicants because they are single, married, divorced, widowed, or any other marital status.
Marital status discrimination can show up in different ways, sometimes subtle and sometimes obvious. Examples include:
- Refusal to Hire – An employer refuses to hire someone because they are married, claiming that a married person would not be as flexible with hours.
- Unequal Treatment of Single Employees – A single employee is repeatedly asked to work late shifts or weekends on the assumption that they have fewer family responsibilities than married coworkers.
- Bias Against Divorced Employees – A divorced employee is passed over for promotion because a supervisor assumes they are “unreliable” or “unstable.”
- Harassment – A manager makes offensive or negative comments about an employee’s marital status, such as mocking someone for being unmarried or questioning someone’s lifestyle after a divorce.
The FCRA also prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report or speak out against marital status discrimination.
Employees should be judged on their skills, performance, and qualifications, not their marital status or any other protected characteristic. When employers make decisions based on stereotypes or assumptions about married or unmarried people, it creates unfair barriers to equal opportunity.
If you believe you have been treated unfairly at work because of your marital status, get help from an experienced employment lawyer who can explain your rights and options. You can make an appointment with Amanda here.
