San Francisco Workplace Discrimination Attorney

Both the State of California and the federal government have careful laws in place that are designed to protect employees against discrimination – and against retaliation for calling out discrimination. While these protections are robust, bringing a successful claim is challenging, which makes working closely with an experienced San Francisco workplace discrimination attorney an excellent plan.

Business Practices

California’s workplace discrimination laws flow from the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which applies to all private and public employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations. These regulations apply across all business practices, including the following:

• Applications, screenings, and interviews for new hires
• Practices related to hiring, promoting, transferring, separating, or terminating employees
• Employee participation in apprenticeship or training programs, unions, or employee organizations 
• Advertisements
• Work conditions, including employee compensation

Comprehensive Protections

California’s workplace discrimination laws protect employees from unlawful discrimination and harassment based on any of the following – whether they be actual or perceived:

• The employee’s ancestry
• The employee’s national origin, including any language restrictions or possession of a driver’s license, issued to an undocumented immigrant
• The employee’s skin color
• The employee’s race, which includes hair texture and hairstyle
• The employee’s age – if at least 40 years old
• The employee’s physical, developmental, or psychiatric disability
• The employee’s sex, which includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and medical conditions related to pregnancy
• The employee’s gender expression or gender identity
• The employee’s sexual orientation
• The employee’s medical condition, including a current condition or a record or history of a medical condition
• The employee’s reproductive health decision-making 
• The employee’s genetic information
• The employee’s marital status
• The employee’s religion, including religious dress and grooming practices

Available Remedies

California law affords legal remedies to employees who are discriminated against or who are harassed as a result of being a member of a protected class. Depending upon the circumstances, legal relief can include:

• Hiring 
• Front or back pay
• Reinstatement
• Promotion
• Cease-and-desist orders 
• The cost of hiring expert witnesses 
• Reasonable attorney fees and legal costs
• Damages related to emotional distress
• Punitive damages – for claims related to especially egregious discrimination, harassment, or retaliation

In order to bring a successful workplace discrimination claim in California, it must be filed within three years of the last occurrence of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. 

Turn to an Experienced San Francisco Workplace Discrimination Attorney Today

When an employee is harassed or discriminated against at work, it leaves them in the difficult position of being mistreated – while also fearing that doing something about it could lead to career-damaging retaliation. The State of California addresses this by having strong workplace discrimination laws in place, and the formidable San Francisco workplace discrimination attorneys at Minnis & Smallets harness the full force of their imposing experience, resources, and legal insight in pursuit of advantageous outcomes for all their valued clients. 

Learn more about what we can do to help by reaching out and contacting us today.