Employment discrimination is against the law. There are state and federal laws that prohibit employers from discriminating for any reason. Millions of employees experience some form of discrimination each year in the U.S. What’s worse is that many employees live with discrimination because they don’t know what to do or how to respond.
At Hernandez Law, we don’t want you to feel like you have to just brush it off. Discrimination is never okay, and we can provide information about your legal rights and available options.
Types of Discrimination in California Workplaces
California law recognizes discrimination as many different types of action or behavior. Discrimination includes physical or verbal contact, inappropriate remarks, harassment, unfair disciplinary actions, being overlooked for raises or promotions and much more. These actions are discriminatory when they are based on:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Age
- Religion
- Disability
- Pregnancy
Whether blatant or subtle, employment discrimination may give rise to legal protections. Employees may wish to seek guidance regarding their options.
California Employment Discrimination Laws
There are numerous state and federal laws that protect employees from employment discrimination. These include:
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964
- California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
- The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
- The Equal Pay Act (EPA)
- The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
All of these laws prohibit discrimination and provide protections for workers. Increasingly, there are also added protections for members of the LGBTQ community. In California, the FEHA also prohibits discrimination based on:
- Sexual identify (orientation or transgender)
- Status as a domestic violence victim
- Arrest record
- Conviction record
- Unemployment status
At Hernandez Law, we have experience handling employment discrimination matters and assist clients in understanding their rights under applicable law.
