Everyone deserves to work in an environment where they feel safe and protected by their employers. However, many employees face discrimination because of who they are. If you’ve faced a similar situation, you don’t have to allow it to continue. Working with a Costa Mesa discrimination attorney can help you understand your legal rights.
Workplace discrimination laws in Costa Mesa are complex, leading to difficulties for both employees and employers involved in such legal cases. Whether you are facing workplace discrimination claims or believe you have been subject to discrimination at your job, an experienced Costa Mesa workplace discrimination lawyer can closely review your case and provide you with strong legal support.
The experienced employment team at California Employment Counsel, APC, has a strong reputation of successfully representing both workers and employers alike in workplace discrimination cases. Such cases are highly sensitive, involving robust evidence and understanding of local, state, and federal employment law, working with a skilled attorney can make all the difference.
At California Employment Counsel, APC, we believe everyone deserves competent legal services. Our attorneys work tirelessly to protect the legal rights of California’s most vulnerable communities during their most difficult times. We’ve recovered millions of dollars in settlements for our clients.
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When you come into our office for your confidential consultation, you’ll be welcomed with the empathy you deserve. After relaying the full details of your situation, our legal team can provide transparent legal advice to help you make informed decisions regarding your case.
The Fair Employment and Housing Act is a California law that protects people from discrimination and harassment in the workplace and in housing. The California Civil Rights Department enforces this law. In 2023, the Civil Rights Department launched 5,765 investigations into civil rights complaints filed throughout California.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act and the federal Title VII of the Civil Rights Act make workplace discrimination based on protected characteristics, such as religion, sexual orientation, race, gender, disability, and pregnancy status, against the law. Instances of workplace discrimination happen when an employer carries out adverse acts against a job applicant or worker based on one of these protected characteristics.
Examples of workplace discrimination may include failure for an employer to give reasonable accommodations to a worker who is breastfeeding, terminating an employee because of their age or race, or refusing to equally pay a male and female workers who complete the same job tasks and have the same qualifications. Discriminatory hiring practices can also constitute workplace discrimination.
An employer can’t treat a job applicant or employee unfairly because of a protected characteristic, such as:
The top employers in Orange County include Fairview Developmental Center, Menzies Aviation, and Broadcom Corporation. Recognizing discrimination in the workplace can be challenging for victims. Perpetrators often use manipulative tactics to make victims feel confused and like they’re overreacting.
Listening to your gut feeling can help you recognize abusive workplace incidents. Common signs that you may be experiencing discrimination can include:
Pay differences between workers with similar roles and experience. In 2023, the Civil Rights Department collected information from private employers with 100 or more workers. This information included around 7.9 million California workers. Their report showed that women and people of color are still among the state’s lowest-paid workers.
Workplace discrimination can feel highly destabilizing. It’s not just your place of employment, it’s your entire livelihood. While it may feel like it, it’s important to remember that you aren’t powerless. If you suspect you’re being discriminated against at work, it is important to act quickly to protect your rights.
In 2023, the Civil Rights Department secured $116.5 million for victims of civil rights violations in California. While it may seem scary at first, pursuing a legal case can help protect you and future employees. To prove you’ve faced workplace discrimination, you must provide evidence of:
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I was lost and calling around for advice to help me with my work situations. Nick was there to help me through it all even when he wasn’t my lawyer…
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Even if you’re not completely sure, it is better to hire a discrimination attorney early on. A lawyer can help you understand whether what you’re experiencing counts as discrimination under California law and explain what steps you should take next. If you suspect discrimination, be sure to:
Ask for written confirmation that you reported the issue. If your supervisor is the person causing the issue, go to someone higher up.
If your employer doesn’t solve the problem, the next step is filing a complaint with the Civil Rights Department. This agency investigates discrimination claims and enforces California’s anti-discrimination laws. You must submit your intake form to the Civil Rights Department within three years of the last date the discrimination happened.
Employer retaliation happens when a worker faces punishment for doing something the law protects, such as reporting discrimination. Like the initial discriminatory act, retaliation can be subtle. Signs can include:
Retaliation can also be more obvious, such as:
California law makes all of these actions illegal if they happen because you exercised your legal rights.
Workplace discrimination cases involve various complex bureaucratic and legal steps, which can be time and resource consuming for both the plaintiff and defendant. Any workplace discrimination case starts when an employee notes any discriminatory behavior in the workplace, and therefore documents and reports such behavior.
Employers who receive reports of workplace discrimination should take adequate steps to address the situation and implement preventive measures to keep the incident from happening again. If the worker believes that the situation has not adequately been addressed during internal reporting and resolution, they may file a formal complaint with the relevant government agency.
After receiving a formal complaint, an agency may look into a case, determining whether discrimination has happened. They may try to reconcile or mediate the dispute between the employer and employee. If the conflict cannot be resolved, they may file a lawsuit or give the employee a Right-to-Sue notice. An employer may hire legal defense of their own to protect themselves against the consequences of a claim.
After this point, the situation may be solved through mediation or decided upon by a judge or jury upon trial. By understanding the general steps in a workplace discrimination case, employees can expect to protect their rights and interests.
If you have been a victim of workplace discrimination, you may be entitled to compensation for non-economic and economic damages. For example, a compensation package could cover lost income and benefits, reimbursement for any legal fees, damages for emotional distress, and, in cases of particularly egregious conduct, punitive damages. A skilled workplace discrimination lawyer can help you optimize your compensation package
A: The amount of time you may have to file a workplace discrimination claim in California is dependent on the specific details of your case. If you are filing with the Civil Rights Department, the statute of limitations is typically one year from the date the incident of discrimination happened. After the agency provides you with a right-to-sue notice, you may go ahead and file a lawsuit against your employer.
A: As a general rule, it is not possible for independent contractors to file workplace discrimination claims in California, as labor laws typically refer to employees, not independent contractors. If you have been misclassified as an independent contractor, however, you could still be able to file a claim under the state’s labor laws. A skilled attorney can go over the details of your case and help you understand your rights in this situation.
A: If you’re facing workplace discrimination in California, you may be able to recover compensation for punitive damage, legal fees, emotional distress, and loss of income and benefits. In some cases, other restorative actions may be taken, such as in order to be reinstated to your old job. By working with a workplace discrimination lawyer, you can understand your options for compensation.
A: It is not required by law to have an attorney in order to file a workplace discrimination claim in California. However, working with skilled legal representation can make all the difference in your case. Attorney guidance can prepare you to file your claim adequately and on time, give you crucial legal knowledge, and negotiate or litigate fiercely to secure an optimal outcome.
A: Whether small employers are exempt from discrimination laws in California is dependent on the details of the business, including the number of employees they have. Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, employers with five or more employees are subject to discrimination laws. By working with a skilled workplace discrimination attorney, you can understand your rights as they relate to your case.
Reach out to California Employment Counsel, APC, to schedule your confidential consultation with one of our attorneys. We’re passionate about giving our Costa Mesa clients the tools they need to take back control of their lives. You have the right to a safe work environment, and your safety is just as important as anyone else’s.
If you are facing instances or allegations of workplace discrimination based on a protected characteristic, such as race, sexual orientation, country of origin, or pregnancy status, you do not have to navigate the situation alone. A skilled Costa Mesa workplace discrimination lawyer from California Employment Counsel, APC, is here for you during this challenging time. Together, we can build up your case to protect your rights and interests.
Let our skilled team handle the legal side of things so you can focus on your well-being during this difficult time.
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Suite 150
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Call: 714-361-0864
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714-462-8376
555 Anton Blvd., Suite 150,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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