Employment Discrimination

Discrimination in the workplace is illegal under both California and Federal law. All employees are entitled to equal treatment in the workplace, free from discrimination based on age, race, gender, or any other personal characteristic. If your employment has been terminated, you’ve been denied promotions, or if any other adverse action has been taken against you due to a personal characteristic, the Orange County employment discrimination attorneys at the Serendib Law Firm can help you assert your rights. Our firm is dedicated to making sure employees feel safe and their voice is heard at work. When business practices become discriminatory in nature and infringe on an employee’s rights, those employers should be held accountable. If you are facing discrimination and have questions about your legal options, please contact the Serendib Law Firm today to speak with an attorney.

Gender Discrimination

Hostile Work Environment

Pregnancy Discrimination

Race Discrimination

Religious Discrimination

Sexual Harassment

Disability Discrimination

Age Discrimination

Discrimination occurs when prejudicial action is taken based on an employee’s personal characteristics. Such characteristics include:

• Age
• Race
• Gender
• Religion
• Disabilities
• National origin
• Sexual Orientation

Discriminating against an employee, or applicant, based on pregnancy is also illegal. Employers must provide reasonable accommodation to pregnant employees and may not deny them necessary leave. Examples of discriminatory treatment include failure to hire, failure to promote, demotions, disparity in pay, and wrongful termination. When you’ve been a victim of discrimination, the first step is often filing a complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), followed by pursuing a discrimination lawsuit if necessary. An experienced workplace discrimination lawyer in Orange County will be able to guide you in these steps to make sure your rights are protected and advocated for.

Both federal and state law protect employees as well as those applying for jobs from being discriminated against. However, it is usually the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) that offers the most protections. To prevail on a discrimination suit, an employee must first show that they were treated unfairly because they were a member of a protected class – meaning they were discriminated against because of a protected characteristic. It also must be shown that the employee was qualified for the job and performed competently at work. Important evidence to be presented in these cases are those of eyewitnesses who can attest to whether comments have been made about an employee that indicate prejudice, as well as who can comment on the quality of an employee’s work. It is also helpful to show a pattern of mistreatment by the employer and how discriminatory practices impacted the individual’s job and career. A knowledgeable Orange County employment discrimination attorney can help you properly build your case so that you have the best chance at success. Once these elements are established, there is a presumption of discrimination, and the burden then shifts to the employer to show that any actions were motivated by a non-discriminatory and legitimate reason.

Compensation available to those who have faced discrimination at work include both economic and non-economic damages. If an employee was terminated from employment due to discrimination or driven to leave a job because of a hostile work environment, they can receive back pay which includes lost wages, as well as any benefits lost. They may also be entitled to any expenses incurred while looking for another job or medical costs, as well as attorney’s fees. Punitive damages may be awarded when an employer’s actions are especially egregious.

If you’ve been denied equal opportunities at work due to discriminatory practices by your employer, you deserve justice. The Orange County employment discrimination lawyers at the Serendib Law Firm are committed to holding prejudicial employers responsible for their actions.

We represent clients not only in Orange County but throughout Southern California including Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. If you need help pursing a discrimination claim or have any other employment law questions, please contact our office at 1-800-LAW-8225 (800-529-8825) or online today.