DEFENDING EMPLOYEE RIGHTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA

If you believe you’ve been discriminated against at work based on race, gender, age, disability, or another protected characteristic, California law provides a clear process for filing a complaint. The Civil Rights Department (CRD), formerly known as the DFEH, handles discrimination complaints in the workplace. Here’s how to file and what to expect. Step 1: Understand Your Rights California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects employees from discrimination based on a variety of characteristics, including: Race, ethnicity, or national origin Gender, gender...

California law prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on a person’s protected characteristics. This includes hiring, promotions, job assignments, and other terms of employment. If you’ve been denied a job or promotion because of your race, gender, age, disability, religion, or other legally protected trait, you may have a valid claim under California’s robust anti-discrimination laws. Protected Characteristics Under California Law The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects individuals from employment discrimination based on: Race,...

In California workplace discrimination cases, two key legal theories often come into play: disparate treatment and disparate impact. Understanding the difference between them can help employees identify whether they may have a valid discrimination claim and how the law views different forms of unequal treatment in the workplace. What Is Disparate Treatment? Disparate treatment occurs when an employer intentionally treats an employee or job applicant differently based on a protected characteristic. This includes race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or other...

California law provides some of the strongest protections for workers facing discrimination in the workplace. Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, it is illegal for employers to treat employees unfairly based on certain protected characteristics. These laws apply to hiring, firing, promotions, job assignments, wages, and other terms of employment. Protected Characteristics Under California Law California law prohibits discrimination based on a wide range of personal attributes. Employers cannot make...

Independent contractors do not receive the same legal protections as employees under California labor law. However, that doesn’t mean they are without recourse. Whether an independent contractor can sue under labor laws depends heavily on how the worker has been classified and whether that classification is accurate under state law. Misclassification of Independent Contractors One of the most common legal issues arises when a worker has been misclassified as an independent contractor. Under California law, particularly the ABC test outlined in Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), many workers who...

Workplace discrimination in California is a serious legal issue, and state laws offer strong protections for employees who are treated unfairly due to certain protected characteristics. Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), it is illegal for employers to discriminate against employees or job applicants based on specific traits such as race, gender, age, disability, and more. Protected Characteristics Under California Law California law prohibits discrimination based on the following personal characteristics: Race or ethnicity National origin or...