Lawsuits based on hiring aren't very common. The main reason is that rejected applicants rarely have access to the information they need to show that the decision was made for illegal reasons -- or even to suspect the employer's decision in the first place.
Everyone has been turned down for a job, and usually it's just because someone better qualified, more experienced, and/or more skilled came along. Sometimes, though, an applicant isn't selected for discriminatory reasons, because of a defamatory negative reference by a former employer, or because the employer considered information it wasn't supposed to have. In these situations, a rejected applicant may have grounds for a lawsuit.
Learn when you might have a legal claim arising from an employer's decision not to hire you.
If a former employer lied about you in a reference, you may have a defamation claim -- but these cases can be tough to prove and win.
Find out about the state laws that prohibit blacklisting -- and how to tell if you're a victim.
Protect your rights in the workplace and get results.
Learn about pregnancy discrimination in hiring.
Requiring employees to share a zip code with the business might violate discrimination laws.
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At Nolo, we prioritize quality and transparency because we know how important reliable legal information is to our readers. Our information is meticulously researched, regularly updated, and written in plain English by our experienced writers and editors. Learn more about our editorial standards.