Discrimination

In 2016, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing received 23,510 complaints - and 86% of those claims were on the basis of employment discrimination. Many people think "that would never happen to me," which can make it all the more shocking when it does happen to you.

Types of Discrimination

Maybe there is one specific scenario that comes to mind when you hear the term "discrimination." You may be surprised to know, then, that discrimination in the workplace can include a wide variety of factors. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), discrimination can be on the basis of:

Age, including harassing or firing an employee over 40 years old simply because of their age.

Disability, such as treating an employee poorly because of physical or mental impairment, a minor impairment, and/or a history of a disability.

Genetic Information, meaning that an employer cannot make employment decisions based on knowledge they have of an employees genetic qualities.

National Origin, such as treating employees differently because of their heritage, ethnicity, accent, or appearance.

Pregnancy, or refusing to accommodate an employee who is pregnant.

Race & Color, including victimizing a person of color or even a person who is married to a person of color.

Religion, or treating an employee unfavorably because of their religious beliefs.

Sex, including different treatment based on gender, sexual orientation, and/or transgender status.

The law protects you from discrimination

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What Your Employer Cannot Do

You may think that discrimination laws mostly affect the hiring process, but they can involve so much more than that. An employer is forbidden from firing you, refusing to hire you, giving you lower pay, refusing to promote you, or giving you poor work assignments for any of the reasons listed above. In addition:

They cannot retaliate against you. If you have been the victim of discrimination and you speak up, your employer cannot punish you for it. You have the right to ask co-workers and superiors about their salaries, resist any sexual advances, talk to your manager about discrimination you have seen, and resist any requests to take part in discriminatory behavior.

They cannot pay you less for performing the same job. If a man and a woman perform the same job at the same quality, they are entitled to the same salary, benefits, and treatment. The jobs do not even need to be exactly identical so long as the requirements are "substantially equal," as defined by the EEOC.

It can be intimidating to speak up against your employer if they are treating you or a co-worker unfairly - but the law is on your side when they do.

Discrimination Attorneys in Los Angeles, California

Each one of us hopes that we can be given the opportunity to succeed in our careers, which is why its such a shame when employers pick and choose who is given the opportunities in the first place. Thankfully, the law prohibits this behavior - and it will hold guilty employers accountable. If you have been discriminated against, speak up! Contact us to get the help you need.