Employees in Oakland, California, are protected by both state and federal law when it comes to employment discrimination. Employers cannot discriminate against employees based on protected statuses, including race, color, sex, national origin, and religion. Further, California’s employers cannot discriminate against employees who are disabled or pregnant. Discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status is also prohibited. If you have experienced on-the-job discrimination, reach out to JML Law and our discrimination attorneys right away for help.
Unlawful Discrimination Examples
Discrimination against employees can be subtle or obvious, and it can occur between fellow employees or between supervisors and employees. Some examples of discrimination on the job in California:
- An employer may be guilty of committing disability discrimination when the employer fails to provide a reasonable accommodation for a job candidate or employee who is disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- An employer who pays a man more than a woman for doing the same job may be found to be discriminating against the employee based on sex or gender.
- A supervisor who fails to promote an employee to the desired position because the candidate is of a specific race, color, national origin, or ancestry may be guilty of race or national origin discrimination.
- A company that routinely lays off or terminates employees when they reach a certain age or who refuses to hire workers who are over the age of 40 may be practicing age discrimination.
If you have been wrongfully discriminated a successful discrimination case may hinge on proving that one of the following occurred, and the occurrence was due to discrimination:
- You were wrongfully fired or terminated.
- You were essentially forced to resign due to a hostile work environment.
- You were demoted or transferred to an unfavorable job assignment.
- Your pay was reduced.
- You were not granted an interview or hired.
- You were denied a promotion.
Other occurrences that materially affect the conditions of your employment may also be construed as discrimination. Our Oakland discrimination attorneys can review the facts in your case to help determine if discrimination has taken place and then help you take steps to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions.
California: Employment “At Will”
As in many states, California is an “at-will” state when it comes to employment. This essentially means that employers can terminate employees for virtually any reason at any time. However, the reason for the termination must be a lawful one. Terminating an employee based on a protected status is not a lawful reason.
Reach Out Now
Employees in California who experience discrimination in the workplace have a limited amount of time to file a complaint about it. For this reason, do not delay in reaching out to our team of Oakland discrimination attorneys at JML Law. Let us preserve your right to collect damages from your employer. You are not alone—we are here for you. Contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or calling us at 818-610-8800.
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