State Law: Maine

This information is intended to familiarize women with employment discrimination law in Maine, so that they may assess the strengths of any claims they may have, and understand their rights so that they may informatively talk to their employers. Generally, the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA) makes it illegal to treat women differently then men in employment, except when based on a "bona fide occupational qualification" (the relevant sections will explain what this means). While the focus here is on sex, it should be noted that the MHRA also makes it illegal to discriminate based on race or color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, age, or ancestry or national origin. Women should read the Filing Procedures section to understand the process involved in bringing a claim and what remedies they should expect.