Best Employment Discrimination Lawyers in California

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Los Angeles Employment Lawyers Fighting Discrimination and Protecting Worker Rights

Employment discrimination means being treated unequally or unfairly at work based on protected characteristics like race, sex, or gender. Discrimination is prohibited under California and federal law, but millions of workers experience unlawful treatment every year.

The Los Angeles employment discrimination lawyers at Stalwart Law Group stand up for mistreated workers across all industries. Our attorneys litigate employment discrimination claims and help victims secure financial compensation for their damages and psychological stress.

Discrimination at work can adversely affect your life, straining your mental health and causing financial hardship from a fear or inability to return to work. But you don’t have to stay silent.

If you have been a victim of employment discrimination, our attorneys can help you recover your losses, hold discriminators accountable, and get you back on your feet.

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Employment Discrimination Laws in California

Under California law, employment discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee or job applicant unfavorably because of a legally protected characteristic. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), disability, age (for those 40 and older), genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or military and veteran status. The law applies to employees and job applicants alike.

Discrimination can happen at any stage of the employment relationship. Besides hiring and firing it may include decisions related to pay, job assignments, promotions, promotions, job assignments, layoffs, training opportunities, access to benefits, workplace policies, and any other term or condition of employment.

What Qualifies as Discrimination in the Workplace?

Employment discrimination can manifest in many different ways, depending on the protected characteristic that is being discriminated against and the aspect of employment affected. The following are some common forms:

Hiring Discrimination: An employer decides not to hire an applicant because the applicant is pregnant or may become pregnant, or because the applicant is of a certain race, religion, or sexual orientation.
Wage Discrimination: An employer pays a female employee less than a male employee for doing the same job with the same level of experience and skill.
Promotion Discrimination: An employer passes over a qualified employee for a promotion because of the employee’s age and promotes a younger employee instead.
Harassment: An employee faces frequent derogatory comments or jokes about their national origin, leading to a hostile work environment.
Retaliation: An employer demotes, fires, or reduces the wages of an employee who filed a discrimination complaint or supported a coworker’s complaint.
Failure to Accommodate: An employer refuses to make reasonable adjustments to the work environment or schedule to accommodate an employee’s disability or religious practices.
Discrimination in Job Assignments: An employer consistently assigns less desirable or lower-profile tasks to employees of a certain race or ethnicity, while employees of a different race rarely get assigned those tasks.

Our Los Angeles lawyers litigate employment claims like these for workers all across California. If you’re experiencing discrimination like this or being treated unfairly in any way that impacts your employment, our lawyers are here to help you resolve the issue and move forward stronger than ever before.

How To File A Discrimination Case Against Your Employer In California

If you believe you have been discriminated against by your employer in California, the general process to file a case is as follows:

1. Document the Discrimination

Record any instances of discrimination, including dates, times, locations, the names of people involved, and what was said or done. Emails, text messages, witness statements, and performance reviews can also serve as valuable evidence.

2. Consult with an Attorney

Consulting with an experienced employment discrimination lawyer early in the process can make a significant difference. An attorney can help you understand your rights, evaluate the strength of your case, and advise you on strategy.

3. File a Complaint with the Civil Rights Department

Before you can file a lawsuit in court, you generally need to file a complaint with the CRD, which is responsible for enforcing California’s laws against workplace discrimination. This is called “exhausting your administrative remedies,” and it’s a required step under state law. When filing a complaint online, you should provide as much detail as possible about the discriminatory practices you have experienced. The employment legal team at Stalwart Law can help you with this process.

4. Comply with Investigations

After receiving your discrimination complaint, the CRD may conduct an investigation. It may interview witnesses, review employment records, and engage in other evidence-gathering activities. Alternatively, you can request an immediate Right-to-Sue notice, which allows you (and your attorney) to bypass the investigation phase and file a lawsuit in civil court right away.

5. Pursue a Lawsuit if Necessary

If the CRD finds evidence of discrimination, it may attempt to resolve the matter through settlement or file a lawsuit on your behalf. If the agency declines to litigate, you can file a lawsuit with your employment lawyer (typically within 1 year of receiving the notice).

If filing a workplace discrimination lawsuit sounds overwhelming, know that you are not alone. Our Los Angeles employment lawyers are here for exactly this reason: to guide you step-by-step, file lawsuits on your behalf, and ensure your story is told as effectively as possible.

How is Employment Discrimination Proven in California?

Proving employment discrimination in California can be complex, as it often requires demonstrating that an employer made an employment decision based on a protected characteristic, rather than a legitimate business reason. You will need to provide strong evidence to build a case that shows the decision was made at least partly because of discriminatory reasons. Your employment attorney will be of great help in this process, as they understand exactly what matters and what doesn’t.

The first step to proving your claim after filing a lawsuit involves gathering all evidence. This includes emails, text messages, memos, performance reviews, disciplinary actions, and any other relevant documents. Performance metrics may also be helpful in certain situations, as they can demonstrate that an employment decision was based on factors outside of competency and merit. Statements from witnesses like coworkers can provide important evidence of discrimination and serve as testimonies of employer bias.

Direct evidence of discrimination, such as a clear-cut discriminatory statement by a manager that they are not promoting you because of your age, is very strong but rare.

Most often, discrimination is proven through indirect evidence. This might involve showing that employees of a different race, age, sex, etc., received better treatment in terms of assignments, promotions, discipline, or other employment conditions. For example, if older employees are routinely laid off during “restructuring,” while younger and less-experienced employees are retained or hired, this may reveal a pattern of disparate treatment based on age, a protected characteristic.

In general, proving workplace discrimination involves showing how you were treated less favorably than similarly situated employees who are outside of your protected class. You do not have to prove that your treatment was based on these factors alone, meaning you still may have a strong case if your employer’s decision was based on both discriminatory and legitimate reasons.

How We Can Help With Your Employment Discrimination Case

Our Los Angeles employment discrimination lawyers can help you determine if you have a case by listening to your story, reviewing your evidence, and asking detailed questions about your experience. Our lawyers have had great success in litigating workplace discrimination claims, and we welcome the opportunity to set further precedents by holding your current or past employer responsible for their unlawful actions.

If we determine you have a valid claim, we’ll work closely with you through every step of the legal process. This includes filing the required complaint with California’s Civil Rights Department (CRD), gathering and presenting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and building a compelling legal strategy to strengthen your case. We will handle negotiations with your employer and their legal team, and we are fully prepared to take your case to court to pursue justice on your behalf.

Our goal is to secure the maximum compensation you’re entitled to. This includes lost benefits and wages, financial compensation for emotional pain and suffering, and potentially punitive damages. Most importantly, we work to restore your sense of dignity, ensure accountability, and create safer workplaces for others who may face similar treatment.

Contact our Los Angeles Employment Discrimination Lawyers for a Free Consultation

If you’ve been the victim of discrimination at work, you don’t have to face it alone. The experienced attorneys at Stalwart Law Group are ready to protect your rights, hold perpetrators accountable, and fight for the compensation and relief you deserve. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation and take the first step toward justice and a life free from discrimination.