What to Know

California Employment Discrimination Attorney

Discrimination Lawsuits. Los Angeles, California.

Employment discrimination claims

If you believe you did not get hired, were fired or demoted, given a poor performance review, reassigned to a remote location, or forced to retire because of discrimination, call us at 888-762-0297 to discuss your case.

We do not charge for consultations.

Our California employment discrimination attorney helps clients to resolve employment discrimination disputes in Los Angeles and throughout California.

Definition of employment discrimination in California

In California, discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people in the workplace based on unjustified distinctions about what groups or categories they belong to or seem to belong to.

Laws against discrimination exist to safeguard a person's right to seek, obtain, and hold employment without experiencing prohibited discrimination.

Types of discrimination

Attorneys in California handle many discrimination cases that are based on:

Race and color,

Religion,

Sex,

Medical condition,

Pregnancy,

National origin,

Military and veteran status,

Age,

Physical disability,

Ancestry,

Mental disability,

Genetic information,

Marital status,

Gender,

Gender identity,

Gender expression,

Sexual orientation.

Direct and indirect employment discrimination

There are many forms that discrimination can take in the workplace, both indirect and direct.

Direct discrimination exists in a workplace where someone is treated less favorably because of their protected characteristics (e.g., didn't get a promotion because of race, gender, age, etc.).

Indirect employment discrimination occurs when a workplace policy applies to everybody but puts some people with protected characteristics at a disadvantage (e.g., people who celebrate religious holidays or pregnant women).

If you want to know if you have a valid discrimination claim or just for more information, call us at 888-762-0297 to speak with our California employment discrimination attorney.

Examples of age discrimination

a) hiring only young people,

b) getting turned down for a promotion,

c) being encouraged or forced to retire,

d) having your position eliminated.

Examples of gender discrimination

a) unequal pay,

b) interview questions,

c) refusing to promote a fully qualified person based on sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Discrimination by association

California anti-discrimination laws prohibit discrimination by association in the workplace. A good example of discrimination by association would be when the hiring manager refuses to consider an applicant because they have an ill child or a disabled spouse at home, assuming that the applicant will miss more work or be preoccupied with their family obligations.

If this happened to you, call us to speak about your situation. We are here to help.

California Employment Discrimination: What to do

1) Make a record of what happened. Document the time, date, location, and names of people who witnessed the incident. Include a detailed description of what occurred.

2) Report discrimination. If the offending behavior persists, report it to your company's management. When employers receive a discrimination complaint, they are obligated by law to investigate it promptly.

3) Be prepared for possible retaliation. If you experience retaliation, add those details to your journal.

4) Consult an experienced Los Angeles employment lawyer. We invite you to call us to discuss your case.

What compensation can you expect in your discrimination lawsuit?

A discrimination lawsuit settlement or verdict may include back pay, front pay, attorney's fees, court, and expert witness fees. There may also be punitive damages (damages to punish the employer or perpetrator). Your settlement may include compensation for emotional distress and the lost benefits, such as bonus payments and pension benefits.

If you want to know what compensation to expect, you need to consult a lawyer for discrimination cases.

What is the time limit to file a discrimination claim in California?

There are strict deadlines (statute of limitations) within which you must act to file a discrimination lawsuit. These statutes of limitations are complex and vary for different types of legal actions. Failure to meet these deadlines can cause you to lose your case or to lose your legal rights. If you want to know when the deadline is to file a complaint in your case, give us a call and fill out the online form below to schedule an appointment.

In California, can I file a discrimination complaint without an attorney?

Yes, but having an attorney is highly recommended if you plan to file a discrimination lawsuit. An attorney will review your case, educate you about your legal rights, and advise you on what to do next in your particular case.

California discrimination laws

The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) in California applies to public and private employers, labor organizations, and employment agencies and protects workers against discrimination.

California law also addresses "English-only" policies, which means - an employer cannot limit or prohibit employees from using any language at work unless there is a business necessity for the restriction (e.g., to promote safety in an emergency). Also, management should notify employees in advance of the circumstances and times when language is restricted and the consequences of violating this restriction.

California laws include gender discrimination, which is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different people. Gender discrimination is often based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin, among other things.

Federal discrimination laws

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA),

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA),

Sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,

Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended (ADA),

Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA),

The Civil Rights Act of 1991.

How does the employment discrimination lawyer get paid?

We take all discrimination cases on a contingency basis, so there is no fee if there is no recovery. Further, we advance the costs of the case, which are only reimbursed upon successfully recovering for you.

For more information

To discuss your case, call us at 888-762-0297 and ask to speak with a California employment discrimination attorney..

Your consultation will be confidential, informative, and free.

We represent clients in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Orange County, and other California cities.

Last updated on July 7, 2022.

Related Articles

• Disability discrimination cases in Los Angeles and California

• Religious discrimination - Los Angeles discrimination lawyer explains

• Sexual discrimination lawsuits: California laws

• Unpaid wages disputes in Los Angeles and California: Wage and hour laws

Additional Resources

• Protections against discrimination - FTC

• Types of employment discrimination - U.S. Justice Department

• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967