Bay Area Discrimination Lawyers

San Francisco Bay Area, California Employment Law Attorneys Tackle Challenging Discrimination Cases

Discrimination in the workplace is unlawful under California and federal law, and it covers more scenarios than many workers realize. An employer’s discriminatory conduct may be actionable if it affects an employer’s decision to terminate an employee, but also if it affects the employee’s wages or opportunity for promotion, or the employer’s decision on hiring an employee. Therefore, it is important for employees to understand their legal rights.

At Minnis & Smallets, LLP, our lawyers know how overwhelming discrimination laws may be for workers. We have dedicated years of practice to assisting San Francisco Bay Area, California employees with discrimination matters, helping employees enforce their legal rights. Our attorneys can provide a customized approach based upon your needs, but an overview of general discrimination concepts may be helpful.

California and Federal Law are Tough on Discrimination

While discrimination is illegal under both state and federal law, the California statute is more expansive. Under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), an employer may not discriminate against an employee on account of:

• Race or color;
• Religion or creed;
• National origin or ethnicity;
• Disability;
• Genetics;
• Marital status;
• Gender or gender identity;
• Age;
• Sexual orientation; and,
• Other factors identified in the statute.

Types of Discrimination

Terminating an employee might be the most obvious form of discrimination, but there are other types of conduct that may be actionable:

• Disparate Treatment: Disparate treatment includes not only terminating an employee because of his or her membership in a protected class, but also other adverse actions taken against an employee for discriminatory reasons. Examples include only promoting male employees, laying off only older employees, or terminating anyone who files a harassment claim.
• Disparate Impact: Where employer policies have a lopsided, negative effect on members of a protected class, this may be an indication of discrimination. For instance, a rule on allowable absences could have a disparate impact on women who take time for maternity leave.

Trust Your Case to a Skilled Discrimination Lawyer in Bay Area, CA

As you can see, discrimination in California workplaces is a complex legal issue. Our experienced San Francisco Bay Area, CA employment attorneys at Minnis & Smallets, LLP can help you navigate the complicated laws, whether you are seeking to file a claim. Please call 1-415-551-0885 to reach our San Francisco offices or visit our website to set up a consultation regarding your case.