Temecula EEOC Lawyer
Temecula EEOC Attorney
Few things can be as degrading or insulting as a workplace discrimination incident. A workplace is supposed to be a place of respect and equal treatment, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or EEOC.
When your workplace rights are violated, it is important that you take the proper steps to protect yourself and any future claim you might make with the help of a Temecula EEOC lawyer. Recognizing discrimination is an important part of this process.
How Can I Recognize Discrimination in the Workplace?
Discrimination in the workplace can take many different forms. It can seem like exclusion. It can feel like disrespect. It can even be as seemingly innocuous as not receiving an invite to a company pizza party.
Regardless, discrimination can make you feel unwanted in the workplace and devalue your role as a productive California worker. The EEOC helps workers who are discriminated against seek compensation and accountability from their employers in the event of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation.
Under California state law, it is illegal for any employer that provides jobs for at least five people to ignore the anti-discrimination rules established by the EEOC and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA). Under the CFRA, California employers must also provide their employees with comprehensive sexual harassment training and up to four months of disability leave to manage a pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
Job-related discrimination is not relegated to just the workplace. Discrimination can occur in multiple ways across the entirety of the application and employment processes. It is vital that you recognize discrimination when it occurs so you can take note of it, bring it to someone’s attention, and help ensure that discriminatory practices are stopped. Here are a few examples of job-related discriminatory practices that EEOC legislation has prohibited:
Promotions
Under EEOC legislation, it is illegal to advance an employee because of one of their protected classes. Advancement in a company should be based on merit, job performance, longevity, and necessity. Promoting someone because of the color of their skin, their age, their gender, their religion, or their sexual orientation is prohibited under California labor laws. On the opposite side, refusing to promote someone for the same reasons is just as bad if not worse.
Employment Applications
Applying for jobs is already a difficult process without the added fear of being turned down because of your prospective employer’s discriminatory behavior. When a prospective employer refuses to acknowledge your application because of your protected traits, it is considered workplace discrimination and is prohibited by the EEOC and California labor laws.
It is acceptable for a prospective employer to refuse an application based on work experience, education, or relevant references, not because they have a problem with someone’s race, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Sexual Harassment
Every kind of online harassment that can happen in the workplace can be insulting and upsetting, but sexual harassment can feel considerably more violating. Mistreating someone in a sexual manner can open the employer up to sexual harassment claims. Sexual harassment includes offensive sexual jokes, unwelcome advances, sexual misconduct, and offering advancement in the company for sexual favors.
Temecula EEOC Law FAQs
Q: How Much Is a Discrimination Claim Worth in California?
A: There is no telling how much a discrimination claim can be worth in California. Every case is different, with its own specific set of unique circumstances. If one case ends up being worth a significant amount in the settlement process, that is not a guarantee that yours will as well. Certain factors have to be taken into consideration to determine a settlement amount, which may not be as much as you wanted or as much as you expected.
Q: How Do I Prove Discrimination at Work in California?
A: The most effective way to prove discrimination at work in California is to gather as much evidence that supports your claim as you possibly can. If you bring your concerns to an experienced EEOC lawyer, they may launch their own independent investigation into your claim and try to gather evidence on their own. This evidence may include:
- Camera footage
- Emails
- Written correspondence
- Legally obtained audio recordings
- Witness statements
- Copies of your work that demonstrate your performance
- Employee evaluations from your employer that testify to the quality of your work
Q: Can You Sue for Discrimination in California?
A: Yes, you absolutely can sue for discrimination in California. If you feel that you have been discriminated against in the workplace, you should bring your concerns to an experienced EEOC or workplace discrimination lawyer. They can help you determine the strength of your case and whether it would be worth pursuing. Try to gather as much evidence for your claim as you can. That way, you can bring as strong a case as possible to your prospective attorney.
Q: How Can I Report Discrimination in the Workplace?
A: To report discrimination in the workplace, you should look into your company’s policy on discrimination, which should have a procedure for filing complaints. Make sure you follow these steps and report your complaint to the relevant department. Be sure to write down as much about the incident as you can remember and gather evidence of what happened. Report the incident to your supervisor or your HR department. If nothing happens, report it to the EEOC.
Contact an Experienced EEOC Lawyer Today
Facing workplace discrimination alone can be disheartening, difficult, and overwhelming. While the EEOC strives to protect workplaces around the country from discriminatory action, incidents still happen. When they happen to you, it is important that you take the proper steps to preserve your claim and gather evidence to build a case for compensation and accountability. An experienced EEOC lawyer can help you do so.
Diefer Law Group, P.C., can provide you with the right kind of assistance by helping you develop your case, ensuring that you don’t miss crucial filing deadlines, and representing your interests throughout the legal process. Contact us to speak with a member of our firm and schedule a consultation.
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