Is it legal to "lay off" a woman and immediately hire a man? 12-10-2008

I was recently laid off. My employer told me I was being laid off because there was another employee who was a single father with 2 children. They reported to the Unemployment agency that my lay off was due to lack of work (mostly clients not paying us). However 2 days later they hired a male landscape architect for less money and posted additional ads for hiring. Is this discrimination? Do I have any rights?

Rita Risser Replies:

This certainly sounds illegal. Contact the U. S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and/or a local attorney. Good luck.

Information here is correct at the time it is posted. Case decisions cited here may be reversed. Please do not rely on this information without consulting an attorney first.