However, discrimination is a state of mind and, therefore, notoriously hard to prove. Sophisticated employers are well aware that discrimination is illegal. Thus, most cases are established through circumstantial evidence.
How to report: To report an instance of tax fraud, please complete the Washington State Tax and License Fraud form or call 360-705-6705.
If the harassment falls under the laws against sexual harassment or discrimination based on protected categories, you may contact the Washington State Human Rights Commission at 1-800-233-3247 and ask them if you qualify to file a formal complaint.
File your complaint online at for faster processing. The Washington State Office of the Attorney General can only process complaints that involve either Washington state residents or businesses located in Washington state.
Although there is no explicit federal law that identifies obese individuals as a protected class under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), at least one state and a handful of cities across the country have passed laws prohibiting employers from discriminating against employment candidates based on weight.
If you believe your workplace rights have been violated, there are 3 ways you can file a complaint: File a Worker Rights Complaint online. Download and mail a completed Worker Rights Complaint form (F700-148-000). Visit your nearest L&I office.
The workplace is a common setting where weight bias and discrimination occur. Employees who have a higher body weight face weight-based inequities in employment including unfair hiring practices, lower wages, fewer promotions, harassment from co-workers, and unfair job termination.
Workers' compensation insurance is generally the sole legal remedy that an injured employee has against their own employer. If you were hurt on the job in Washington State, you cannot file a personal injury lawsuit directly against your own employer. Instead, you must pursue a workers' comp claim to get your benefits.
Legal protections in California Employers cannot treat employees less favorably because of their physical characteristics, which include obesity. ing to FEHA, they also must provide reasonable accommodations for employees who have disabilities, including severe obesity, unless doing so would cause undue hardship.
Obesity Is a New Protected Class in Washington State. The Washington Supreme Court held for the first time that obesity is a protected class under state anti-discrimination law (The applicant v. Burlington Northern Railroad Holdings, Inc.).