You Felt It for a Reason. Let Us Tell You Whether the Law Protects You.
Workplace discrimination is often subtle, persistent, and deeply personal — and most people don't know whether what they're experiencing rises to the level of a legal claim until it's too late to file one. Our employment discrimination attorneys in Tampa evaluate your situation directly, explain your rights under federal and Florida law, and act fast if the clock is running.
What Counts as Employment Discrimination Under the Law
Employment discrimination occurs when an employer takes an adverse action against an employee — or creates a hostile work environment — based on a protected characteristic. Federal law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act all prohibit these practices. Florida's Civil Rights Act extends similar protections at the state level.
Protected characteristics under these laws include:
- Race and color
- Sex and gender
- Age (40 and older)
- Disability
- National origin
- Religion
- Pregnancy and related medical conditions
- Genetic information
Adverse employment actions include termination, demotion, pay cuts, denial of promotion, shift changes designed to push you out, and exclusion from opportunities available to similarly situated coworkers. If the treatment you're experiencing is tied to one of these characteristics, it may constitute a Florida employment discrimination claim — and an initial conversation with our attorneys will tell you whether it does.
Don't Self-Disqualify Before Calling Us
Most people who have experienced workplace discrimination talk themselves out of calling a lawyer before they ever pick up the phone. They assume what happened wasn't bad enough, that they can't prove it, or that HR already handled it. These are the most common reasons valid claims go unfiled.
Employment discrimination doesn't require a single dramatic incident. Patterns of differential treatment, comments that seem offhand but repeat over time, being passed over for advancement while less-qualified colleagues move up — these are exactly the kinds of facts our attorneys are trained to evaluate. One conversation with us clarifies whether the treatment you experienced meets the legal threshold and which law offers the strongest protection. You don't need to have that answer before you call.
The EEOC Filing Requirement and Florida's 300-Day Deadline
Before you can file a workplace discrimination lawsuit in Florida, you are required to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR). This is not optional — it is a legal prerequisite to bringing a claim in court.
In Florida, you have 300 days from the date of the discriminatory act to file that charge. Missing this deadline bars your claim entirely. There is no exception for not knowing the deadline existed.
How the EEOC Process Works
After you file a charge, the EEOC notifies your employer and begins an investigation. The agency may attempt mediation, request position statements, and gather evidence from both sides. If the EEOC finds reasonable cause or issues a "right to sue" letter, you can proceed to federal court. The process moves on its own timeline — which is exactly why early legal representation matters.
The Florida Commission on Human Relations (FCHR)
The FCHR is Florida's state-level counterpart to the EEOC and handles claims under the Florida Civil Rights Act. Filing with either agency satisfies the administrative exhaustion requirement. Our attorneys know when a state-level filing is strategically advantageous and will guide you through whichever process gives your claim the strongest footing.
Why the Deadline Is the Most Urgent Thing on This Page
300 days sounds like a long time. It isn't. Between gathering documentation, identifying witnesses, understanding which law applies, and building the factual record the EEOC will need, there is real work to do before the charge is filed. Employers and their attorneys begin building their defense the moment they're notified. Waiting costs you leverage. Call us before the window closes.
Retaliation Is Illegal — and It Makes Your Case Stronger
If your employer fires you, demotes you, cuts your hours, or makes your working conditions worse after you report discrimination or file an EEOC charge, that retaliation is a separate violation of federal law. Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA all include anti-retaliation provisions, and Florida law mirrors those protections.
Retaliation claims are among the most common employment charges filed with the EEOC — and they are taken seriously. When an employer retaliates, it often provides direct evidence of the discriminatory mindset that drove the original conduct. Our attorneys handle both the underlying discrimination claim and any retaliation that follows, and we document retaliation carefully from the moment you report it to us.
Types of Discrimination Cases We Handle
Our Tampa employment discrimination attorneys represent workers across Florida in claims involving:
- Racial discrimination and hostile work environment based on race or color
- Sex and gender discrimination, including unequal pay and gender-based harassment
- Age discrimination against workers 40 and older
- Disability discrimination and failure to provide reasonable accommodation
- National origin discrimination, including language-based discrimination
- Religious discrimination and failure to accommodate religious practice
- Pregnancy discrimination and adverse action related to maternity leave
- Retaliation for reporting discrimination or participating in an EEOC investigation
If your situation involves a characteristic not listed here, contact us anyway. The law covers more ground than most people realize, and an initial conversation costs you nothing.
Why Our Attorneys Understand the Employer Side Too
Several of our attorneys have represented employers and insurance carriers earlier in their careers. That experience is not incidental — it shapes how we build cases for the workers we now represent. We know how employers document performance issues to create cover for discriminatory decisions. We know how HR investigations are conducted and where they fall short. We know what defense counsel looks for and how to anticipate it.
That perspective, combined with our firm's 40+ years of experience across employment and injury law in Florida, means our clients come to the table with attorneys who have seen this from both sides. We use that knowledge to protect you.
Serving Employees Throughout Florida
Our employment discrimination attorneys are based in Tampa and serve clients across the state of Florida, including Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Lakeland, and surrounding communities. We offer virtual consultations for clients who cannot come to us in person, and our team includes bilingual Spanish-speaking attorneys at the partner level.
If you're facing discrimination at work and aren't sure whether you have a claim, we'll tell you honestly — and if you do, we'll move quickly.
Employment Discrimination — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if what happened to me qualifies as employment discrimination?
If you were treated differently at work — passed over, demoted, harassed, or terminated — because of your race, sex, age, disability, national origin, religion, pregnancy, or another protected characteristic, you may have a claim. The best way to find out is to speak with one of our attorneys. We evaluate the facts and tell you honestly what the law supports.What is the deadline to file an employment discrimination claim in Florida?
In Florida, you have 300 days from the date of the discriminatory act to file a charge with the EEOC or the Florida Commission on Human Relations. Missing this deadline eliminates your right to sue, with no exceptions. If you think you may be approaching that window, call us immediately.Do I have to file with the EEOC before I can sue my employer?
Yes. Filing a charge with the EEOC or FCHR is a required first step before you can bring a discrimination lawsuit in court. This process is called administrative exhaustion. Our attorneys guide you through the filing, the investigation, and any litigation that follows.What if my employer retaliates after I report discrimination?
Retaliation for reporting discrimination or filing an EEOC charge is illegal under federal and Florida law. It creates a separate legal claim on top of the underlying discrimination. Document everything that changes after you report — and call us right away, because retaliation evidence needs to be preserved quickly.Can I file a discrimination claim if I was an independent contractor, not an employee?
Federal anti-discrimination laws generally apply to employees, not independent contractors. However, some Florida workers classified as contractors are legally employees under the law, and misclassification itself can be a separate issue. We'll evaluate your work arrangement and tell you what protections apply.How much does it cost to hire an employment discrimination attorney?
We handle employment discrimination cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you. Your initial consultation is free. There is no financial risk to calling us and understanding your options.
The Attorneys Handling Your Personal Injury Case
Personal injury litigation at Barbas Nunez Sanders Butler & Hovsepian is led by three attorneys whose backgrounds bring distinct strengths to every case.
Kelly Barcia Nunez
Kelly Barcia Nunez is a Florida Bar Board Certified attorney and founding partner with more than 30 years of litigation experience. Her command of Florida injury law and her direct client communication style have made her one of the firm's most trusted advocates for accident victims.
L. Gray Sanders
L. Gray Sanders spent time on the defense side of civil litigation before joining the firm, which means he approaches every personal injury case understanding exactly how the opposing carrier will evaluate and contest it. That inside knowledge shapes case strategy from the first file review.
Kristen Emerson
Kristen Emerson holds a nursing degree alongside her law license. In personal injury cases involving serious physical injuries, disputed diagnoses, or contested medical causation, her clinical background is a concrete advantage — she understands what happened to your body, not just what the records say.
Ready to Find Out Whether You Have a Claim?
The 300-day deadline is real, and it moves faster than most people expect. If you're being treated differently at work and you believe it's connected to who you are — your race, your age, your disability, your gender, your religion — you owe it to yourself to find out whether the law protects you. One conversation with our Tampa employment discrimination attorneys will give you that answer. Contact us today for a free consultation.