Victims of workplace discrimination should be aware that they can earn various types of compensation for their damages. No employee should be exposed to prejudice in the workplace, whether by a coworker or an employer. The actions and words that discriminate are able to be used as grounds for a lawsuit, and the individuals responsible can be held liable for your expenses. Unfortunately, many workplaces do not take the necessary action to correct these issues, leading to a cultivation of harassment and prejudice. Our law firm, the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, is dedicated to our clients and to bringing them justice and restitution. We believe that we should not only acquire a settlement, but also positively impact the work environment and change it for the better. With the help of our experienced Orange County / Santa Ana / Anaheim / Irvine attorney for workplace discrimination cases, you could receive fair compensation for your lawsuit.
Spotting Discrimination
There are numerous ways that you can be discriminated against in the workplace at any point of the employment process. Identifying these situations can be difficult depending on the context of the situation and how much information you have available.
For example, if you are a job applicant for a certain position and have an interview with a hiring manager, you may be rejected for seemingly no reason. It is illegal for the hiring manager to fire you based on a protected class, such as gender, religion, or race. However, it is also the custom for hiring managers to not inform every applicant that he was rejected. The real reason behind you not being hired could easily never be known.
This is often the most difficult hurdle in a workplace discrimination case: if the perpetrator merely never states that he was acting with prejudice, it will be hard to prove otherwise.
If you are already a part of a team and working at a company, you should be given the same opportunities afforded to others. If there is a possibility for a promotion, to increase your benefits, to have full time work, or to hold more responsibilities, you should not be passed over because of a specific trait. Managers and supervisors may reward others who share their religious beliefs or nation of origin, and if you are discriminated against for being in a minority or for any similar reason, you could sue for workplace discrimination.
Additionally, if you were released from your position only for another person to take up your job despite numerous positive reviews and promises about longer employment, you should evaluate the situation a bit closer. You very well could have been let go because of discrimination, and if the circumstances point to it, a lawsuit could help you earn what you lost. Reach out to a lawyer with experience in employment discrimination cases in Orange County/Santa Ana/Anaheim/Irvine for more help.
Laws Protecting Workers
There have been various laws enacted to protect workers from discrimination. These laws have been around for decades and were crafted to give certain groups and classes the security that they would not suffer prejudice for being different or minorities. Some of these laws include:
- Civil Rights Act of 1964: This Act outlawed discrimination in the workplace based on gender, race, religion, sex, nation of origin, ethnicity, and more. It was written as the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing.
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967: This law prevented employers from discriminating against older workers. Generally, businesses found it beneficial to hire young workers who would work for less pay and benefits; these workers would also spend less time at the company and have fewer demands than older people. People over the age of 40 were discriminated against, and sometimes given fewer job duties or reduced hours.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990: Those with physical disabilities or handicaps cannot be discriminated against thanks to this law. It requires that employers do what they can to provide reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities and to ensure that job responsibilities are fairly doled out. For example, heavy lifting can be ignored if a person is disabled, but additional desk work can take its place.
If there are any violations of these acts, your employer could face heavy consequences. You can file a report with the EEOC, for one, and if your company retaliates against you, there could be a slew of poor news coverage and a dip in profits.
Call an experienced Orange County/Santa Ana/Anaheim/Irvine attorney for workplace discrimination cases today to learn more about the laws that protect workers.
Deadline to Sue Your Employer
The statute of limitations is the timeline during which you can file a lawsuit against your boss. If you do not take any legal action during this time, you will not be able to pursue compensation at a later date. The statute is in place to prevent claims from sitting too long before they are filed; the longer you wait, the higher the chances that evidence will get corrupted and witnesses will misremember the details of the event. There are some exceptions to the statute of limitations, such as you being a minor at the time of the accident or the plaintiff being out of the country when you wished to file a claim. Your lawyer will be able to assist you in figuring out if you are eligible for any exceptions.
If you are discriminated against at work, you have 180 days from the date of the occurrence to file a claim. This deadline is extended to 300 days if there is also a state or local law in place that prevents the discrimination as well. However, if the defendant is a government entity, you will only have 45 days from the date of the discrimination. This varying number of days can be confusing, and we recommend seeking the assistance of an Orange County/Santa Ana/Anaheim/Irvine workplace discrimination lawyer.
Receiving Compensation
Workplace discrimination can result in various damages, including termination from your position, an uncomfortable and abusive work environment, and more. You may take a large hit to your finances because of a reduction in pay or you may not be able to continue working because of a lack of accommodations.
With our help, you can earn the following types of compensation:
- Lost Wages: If you were fired, had your hours reduced, docked pay, or otherwise affected so that you lost out on income, you could have these earnings reimbursed. Other promotions, benefits, bonuses, and such could also be recovered.
- Punitive Damages: Some discrimination cases allow you to recover punitive damages. These damages are merely additional forms of monetary compensation. They are usually very difficult to win, and only skilled lawyers will be able to secure them for your lawsuit.
- Pain and Suffering: Your emotional damages can be covered in your lawsuit. The mental anguish, PTSD, fear, anxiety, psychological trauma, and mental stress can take a long time to heal, and as such, they should be appropriately compensated.
Undertaking legal action by yourself can be daunting. You may find yourself unable to keep up with the workload and run out of time, energy, and money. Contact a discrimination attorney in Orange County/Santa Ana/Anaheim/Irvine to help you move forward with legal action.
Our Firm’s Promise
At the California Labor Law Employment Attorneys Group, we promise to bring you a settlement you are satisfied with in your workplace discrimination lawsuit. You should not be expected to endure the suffering that accompanies prejudice at work. Our aggressive lawyers will do all we can to wrestle a fair settlement from your employer. We are willing to take your case all the way to court if necessary. At our firm, you are not just another number – you are a part of our family, and as such, you will receive the most dedication possible.
We also serve those who do not have English as their first language. A lawyer who speaks Spanish will be able to help you prepare your case. We know that employers may take advantage of those who do not speak English, whether by providing confusing contracts or not explaining workplace policies. A Spanish speaking attorney can assist you.
Call us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney. You can receive information about workplace discrimination laws and how to file a lawsuit. We will look over your case and tell you what we believe you can earn. With our legal services, you also receive a zero fee guarantee, meaning you owe us no out of pocket fees throughout your case – our payment only comes if we win, and the money is taken from the settlement we bring you.
Contact our law group to speak to one of our Orange County/Santa Ana/Anaheim/Irvine attorneys that have experience in employee job discrimination lawsuits.
