Costa Mesa Discrimination Attorney

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.

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.

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.

An employer can’t treat a job applicant or employee unfairly because of a protected characteristic, such as:

• Race. In 2023, there were 1,322 employee complaints in California alleging civil rights violations based on race.
• Age
• Religion
• Sex and gender. There were 1,351 employee complaints filed in California in 2023 regarding violations of sex and gender.
• Sexuality
• Disability. In 2023, there were 2,008 employee complaints in California alleging civil rights violations due to disabilities. These can include physical, intellectual, and mental health disabilities.

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:

• Mean jokes or comments about your identity
• Repeated bullying that creates a hostile environment
• Favoritism by management toward certain groups of people. For example, some workers may receive promotions or better projects while others with similar or better qualifications are overlooked.
• Unbalanced punishments. If one group receives lighter consequences for the same mistakes, this could be discrimination.
• Consistently being given unimportant or low-level tasks while others get better opportunities
• Being left out of important meetings, emails, or social events

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:

• The protected group you’re a part of
• The negative treatment you’ve faced at work
• The direct link between the negative treatment you’ve faced and your protected group

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:

1. Write everything down as soon as it happens. Keep a detailed record of each incident, including the date, time, who was involved, what was said or done, and whether there were any witnesses.
2. Save emails, text messages, and any other documents that relate to the situation. These notes can be very important later because discrimination cases often rely on clear, organized evidence. The sooner you record the details, the more accurate and helpful they will be.
3. Report the issue to your employer or your human resources department. Many companies require employees to report discrimination internally before filing an outside complaint. Reporting gives your employer a chance to fix the problem and also shows that you followed company procedures.

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:

• Being excluded from work meetings
• Getting poor performance reviews directly after reporting your discrimination case
• Losing promotions
• Your fellow employees or management being passive-aggressive towards you
• Having your work hours reduced

Retaliation can also be more obvious, such as:

• Getting fired
• Being demoted
• Getting yelled at

California law makes all of these actions illegal if they happen because you exercised your legal rights.

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.

Let our skilled team handle the legal side of things so you can focus on your well-being during this difficult time.