Marriage Discrimination

There has long been a theory that individuals, once married, are unable to carry on friendships with their single friends. Among dating individuals, those that are single are more likely to spend most of their time with their single friends. This amounts to something of social discrimination. Not illegal by any means, but it still happens. Unfortunately, the same concept of treating married employees differently from single employees is known as marital status or marriage discrimination and it is much more serious.

Marital status or marriage discrimination entails treating an employee differently in regards to his or her employment requirements and opportunities based on what his or her marital status is. This can be based on being currently married, currently single, newly single, divorcing, or engaged. When a person is subjected to marital status discrimination, this discrimination is frequently accompanied by other types of discrimination frequently associated with marriage like pregnancy discrimination or parental status discrimination.

When a person is subjected to marriage discrimination, the discrimination is typically in the form of being treated differently or in the allocation of benefits allotted by the company. Receiving different treatment goes both ways for single and married individuals.

Single employees may be expected to put in more hours at the office or travel more because they are single. On the other hand, a single employee may not be promoted because the company might have a preference for “stable family men” over “bachelors.” Recently married women may be passed over for promotion because the company assumes that a family will be started soon.

Contact a Houston Labor Lawyer

If you have been a victim of marriage discrimination, contact the Houston labor lawyers of the Ross Law Group at 713-482-6910 to discuss your legal rights and options.