At the Leichter Law Firm, APC, the Los Angeles employment law attorney, Aryeh Leichter, know that it is illegal to discriminate against a California job applicant or employee because of a protected characteristic.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is responsible for enforcing federal workplace discrimination laws, and the Civil Rights Department (CRD) is responsible for enforcing California’s state workplace discrimination laws.
The CRD Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) applies to all public and private employers, labor organizations, and employment agencies. It is illegal for employers of five or more employees to discriminate against job applicants and employees because of a protected category or retaliate against them because they have asserted their rights under the law.
Here is what that means.
What are Considered Protected Characteristics in California?
California law protects individuals from illegal discrimination by employers based on the following:
- Age (40 and over)
- Ancestry, national origin
- Disability, mental and physical
- Gender identity, gender expression
- Genetic information
- Marital status
- Medical condition
- Military or veteran status
- Race, color
- Religion, creed
- Sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions)
- Sexual orientation
These state laws barring discrimination apply to all business practices, including the following:
- Advertisements
- Applications, screening, and interviews
- Hiring, transferring, promoting, terminating, or separating employees
- Participation in a training or apprenticeship program, employee organization, or union
- Working conditions, including compensation
If you are suffering from discrimination in the workplace, the Leichter Law Firm wants to hear your story, so the attorney can pursue the appropriate legal remedy to meet your unique recovery needs.
What Types of Legal Remedies Can Employees Pursue After Being Subjected to Workplace Discrimination in California?
State law provides for a variety of remedies for victims of employment discrimination in California, including:
- Back pay
- Front pay
- Hiring / Reinstatement
- Promotion
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Policy changes
- Training
- Reasonable accommodation(s)
- Damages for emotional distress
- Punitive damages
- Attorney’s fees and costs
If you have been discriminated against in your California workplace, contact Aryeh Leichter, the Leichter Law Firm, APC founder, and employment law attorney in Los Angeles County today to discuss the legal remedies that may be available for your unique workplace circumstances today, starting with a free consultation by calling 818-915-6624 or contacting the firm online.