Los Angeles Employment Discrimination Attorney
California firm fights for victims of workforce discrimination
Victims of bias are often intimidated into remaining silent, but with a strong lawyer by your side, you can assert your rights and hopefully create a better workplace for yourself and others. At the Law Offices of Victor Manrique in Los Angeles, I have the experience to help Southern California government employees who have been mistreated due to personal characteristics subject to legal protection, including their race, sex, nationality, religion, age, and medical disability status.
Common types of employment discrimination
Someone who can fulfill the requirements of a certain job should be given the opportunity to do so. Federal law prohibits workplace discrimination based on specific personal traits, and California has extended this protection to additional groups. Some of the common characteristics that give rise to discrimination claims include:
- Race, color and nationality — Ethnic and racial background cannot be used as a factor in employment matters.
- Sex, gender expression and sexual orientation — Within California, sex-based discrimination is unlawful. This includes mistreatment based on one’s sexual orientation, gender expression and pregnancy status.
- Religion — Bias based on faith might involve unfair hiring practices or the refusal to allow employees to engage in religious observances.
- Disability status — Employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for workers who can still complete their job duties despite a disability or medical condition.
- Age — Individuals aged 40 and older can bring a case if their age led to negative treatment.
Discrimination can be reflected in several ways. In some cases, people within a certain group might be paid lower wages, denied promotion, disciplined more harshly than others, or mistreated in other ways. Alternatively, individuals with particular characteristics might not be hired at all, or fired first when an economic downturn occurs. Even if you only suspect that you were victimized by discrimination on the job, it is worthwhile to speak with a qualified employment attorney to determine if you are entitled to relief.
Protection under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and California law
The pivotal federal legislation that barred workplace discrimination was the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII of this law prohibits employers and labor unions from treating workers differently due to their race, religion, sex or national origin. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act and American Disabilities Act increased the scope of federal anti-bias laws. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act addresses other situations where workers might be mistreated, such as when they have a particular medical condition or because they have a certain sexual orientation.
Two types of sexual harassment claims
One common form of discrimination against women is sexual harassment, which falls into one of two categories: quid pro quo and hostile work environment. Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when a boss or someone else in a superior workplace position tries to pressure an employee into giving them sexual attention. This might mean that a worker is threatened with firing or demotion if they do not go out with the harasser. Alternatively, the boss might offer a raise or better work assignment if their victim provides sexual favors. The second type of unlawful sexual harassment occurs when supervisors, co-workers or others at a job site create a hostile work environment that targets a victim due to their sex. You might have a hostile work environment claim if you have been exposed to explicit images, crude comments, unwanted touching or other unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature.
Defense against discipline for alleged discrimination
When a discrimination claim is made against a public worker and the worker feels the claim is false, unfairly exaggerated, or the discipline is disproportionately harsh, such an employee needs effective representation to defend against the charge. Careful evaluation of detailed facts is necessary to assess the risks in discrimination defense cases and careful trial preparation is key to success in such cases.
Contact an aggressive Southern California discrimination lawyer for a consultation
The Law Offices of Victor Manrique assists clients in a full range of California employment discrimination cases. To set up a meeting about your legal options, please call 213-487-4733 or contact me online. My office is located on Wilshire Boulevard at Berendo Street in the historic Talmadge Buidling in Los Angeles
