Despite the significant progress that has been made in recent years, discrimination and harassment – of various types – continue to occur in workplaces throughout the State of California. Workplace discrimination includes not only racial discrimination but also discrimination based upon gender and sexual orientation. Workplace harassment includes not just sexual harassment but also physical or emotional abuse of any kind that is directed by a coworker, supervisor, or client against an employee.
If you believe that you are the victim of employment discrimination or harassment in your workplace, it is essential that you speak with an experienced California employment attorney about your legal matter as soon as possible. A knowledgeable attorney will be able to review your circumstances with you and may be able to take legal action against your employer on your behalf.
Common Types of Employee Discrimination in California Workplaces
There are several types of discrimination that can occur in workplaces located throughout the State of California. Some common types of workplace discrimination include the following:
- Age discrimination – or treating a person differently in the employment context because of age – especially with regard to hiring and firing
- Disability discrimination – or treating an employee differently because he or she suffers from a disability – including failing to make reasonable accommodations for an employee’s disability
- Race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or national origin discrimination – or treating an employee differently because he or she is a member of a particular race, ethnicity, gender, or national origin – or directing harassment or abuse at a person who is a member of one or more protected classes
If you believe that you are the victim of workplace discrimination based upon one or more of these classifications, an experienced California employment attorney could take the necessary action(s) on your behalf against your employer.
Common Types of Employee Harassment in California Workplaces
Employee harassment also continues to be a problem in some California workplaces. One common type of harassment that occurs in workplaces is sexual harassment. Sexual harassment typically includes some type of unwanted touching or attention of a sexual nature that is directed by a coworker, client, or supervisor against an employee. It can also involve making comments about a person’s body or appearance – or showing an employee images of a sexual or inappropriate nature.
Reporting Workplace Discrimination and Harassment
If you believe that you are the victim of discrimination or harassment in your workplace, it is important that you take action right away. In most cases, the first step is to report the discrimination or harassment to your human resources supervisor or another individual who is identified in your employee handbook or other guidelines. It is important that you are fully aware of your workplace’s policies regarding reporting discrimination and harassment. If you fail to follow these policies, you might be waiving potential remedies that you may be able to obtain against your employer.
A knowledgeable California workplace discrimination and harassment attorney in California could assist you with filing the necessary complaints and taking legal action against your employer, if necessary.