California Workplace Discrimination Lawyer

Workplace discrimination against protected classes of citizens is unlawful in California. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act protects workers and job seekers against discrimination based on race, color, and more. At Ken Goldman Law, we can represent you in a claim against employers who engage in discriminatory actions in hiring, firing, promoting, paying, or in any other activity connected with employment. Attorney Ken Goldman is a proven trial lawyer who has obtained millions in settlements for clients seeking civil legal remedies in cases spanning the last decade. Our firm can help you pursue justice against the hardship, stress, and pain of unfair treatment in the workplace.

Schedule a consultation to discuss your workplace concerns with our California workplace discrimination attorney by contacting us online or at (855) 935-3983. Serving clients in the Central Valley & Beyond 

Workplace Discrimination in California

Workplace discrimination is based on characteristics that are protected by law such as:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• National origin
• Gender
• Sex
• Gender identity/expression
• Age (over 40)
• Sexual orientation
• Marital status
• Physical or mental disability
• Medical condition
• Genetic information
• Military or veteran status

Discriminatory actions taken against a worker or job applicant along these lines is illegal. The discrimination can be subtle and can be committed against individuals by others in their protected class, such as a woman discriminating against another woman or an African American discriminating against another African American.

How Is Discrimination Expressed in the Workplace?

Employers generally understand that discrimination is illegal so will likely not make obvious statements or actions that they know can be found unlawful. This means that workplace discrimination can be committed in various subtle ways. 

Examples of discriminatory actions may include but are not limited to:

• Passing you over for a promotion when you are fully qualified and choosing someone else who may be less qualified 
• Laying you off or giving you fewer optimum shifts or job assignments because of your age or some other protected characteristic
• Giving you a poor review for job performance when it is not deserved
• Reducing your hours or pay
• Excluding you from opportunities for advanced training or job opportunities within the company
• Excluding you from work events or company meetings
• Failing to put a stop to racist slurs or material in the workplace
• Failing to put a stop to sexist remarks, jokes, or references to your body or appearance
• Ridiculing you for your speech patterns, accent, or ancestry
• Purposely mispronouncing your name because it is ethnic
• Denying you bonuses, commissions, or other benefits
• Denying you family leave, disability leave, or workers’ compensation
• Retaliating against you by reducing your hours because you asked for pregnancy leave
• Forcing you to quit because of a hostile work environment
• Failing to hire you because of your perceived sexual orientation

Discrimination can be committed against workers not only by employers, managers, and supervisors but by coworkers, clients, and customers. When employers fail to put a stop to discrimination against you that is committed by these types of individuals within the workplace, they can be held liable. 

Filing a Discrimination Claim

Generally, you must go through an administrative process with your employer first if you have been subject to discrimination at work. However, you may also file a complaint with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) as well seeking the right to sue your employer without having to seek administrative remedies at work first. 

At Ken Goldman Law, we can advise you on how best to proceed in any discrimination claim after thoroughly reviewing the individual facts and circumstances of your case. You may be entitled to money damages based on your loss of wages, benefits, pension benefits, bonuses, for your out-of-pocket expenses associated with the situation and for your emotional distress and pain and suffering. 

Contact us for legal advice about your workplace discrimination case at (855) 935-3983 or request your consultation online today.