A couple of years ago it was hard to avoid all of the news about sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace, especially since many of those news stories originated right here in California. While sexual harassment and gender discrimination are certainly still problems in California and throughout the country, there are many other types of discrimination as well that our readers should be aware of. Many of them do not receive the same level of attention in the media.
Different forms of discrimination
If an employer has a legitimate reason for discriminating between two employees, that’s perfectly fine. For instance, an employer might decide one has done a good job and deserves a promotion while the other does not. But if the discrimination is not for a legitimate reason, but is instead motivated because of the worker’s membership in a protected class, then the discrimination could violate state and federal laws.
For example, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lists age, disability, race, religion and national origin – among others – in its list of the different types of unlawful discrimination that a person might encounter in the workplace.
Fortunately, employees are protected by state and federal laws if they believe they have been the victims of discrimination in the workplace. The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law that protects disabled workers from discrimination both in the hiring process and as employees. Depending on the type of discrimination alleged, a state or federal protection may be applicable.
At our law firm, we work with California residents who believe they have been the victim of discrimination in the workplace. Employers and their managers who engage in this type of conduct must be held accountable. A lawsuit may be necessary to do so. For more information, please visit the discrimination overview section of our law firm’s website.
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