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Workplace Discrimination Lawyer in Los Angeles

Employment discrimination can take many forms. It can include harassment as a violation of your employee rights and even wrongful termination based on your race, gender identity, age, religious beliefs, disability, or pregnancy. If you believe you’ve experienced this form of discrimination in the workplace, you should contact a workplace discrimination lawyer immediately.

At Colby Law Office, we understand the complications that often come with employment discrimination claims. Beyond the possibility of lost wages, the emotional turmoil your situation creates for you and your family can have severe effects on your quality of life. With our help, you gain access to professional lawyers who can build your claim and fight your discrimination case. Our team has expertise in all anti-discrimination laws, including Title VII and the Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA).. 

Everybody deserves a workplace that is free of hostility, harassment, and discrimination. With Colby Law Firm, you can ensure you experience that type of workplace by seeking compensation for any employment discrimination you may have faced. Contact us to meet with an experienced employment discrimination lawyer and receive legal advice.

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What Is Workplace Discrimination?

Workplace discrimination is when an employer or coworker to treats an employee, job applicant, volunteer, or unpaid intern poorly because of things like their race, where they come from, or their religion. These identities and characteristics are protected by law from discrimination:

  • Race
  • National origin
  • Religious creed
  • Gender expression
  • Genetic information
  • Marital status
  • Medical condition
  • Age
  • Sexual orientation
  • Ancestry
  • Physical or mental disability
  • Color
  • Gender identity
  • Military or veteran status

If you have been treated unfairly based on any of these characteristics, you may have experienced workplace discrimination and should talk to a lawyer who can help you.

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Physical Threats

Physical violence or threatening behavior is not allowed in a California workplace. If you have experienced any type of physical harassment or assault, it may be considered discrimination against you.

Anti-Harassment Provisions

There are rules against harassment in the workplace that apply to all employers in California, whether private, state, or local employees.

Anti-Harrassment Law

No matter your position, you are protected from harassment and discrimination at work in California. This includes employees, independent contractors, volunteers, unpaid interns, and job applicants.

Illegal Discrimination

Harassment is any type of discrimination based on a protected class or characteristic. It is illegal to discriminate against someone based on these traits, and you have the right to work in a discrimination-free environment.

Who is protected against discrimination?

It is illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee based on any of the below charactiersitcs or identities. These are called “protected classes and characteristics.”

The 3 Main Types of Employment Discrimination.

Discrimination is a blanket term that can apply to several actions an employer may take. Most kinds of discrimination, however, falls into one of these three categories.

01

Disparate Treatment: When an Employer Singles You Out

Disparate treatment occurs when an employer singles you out for unfair treatment based on a protected class or characteristic. Examples include demotions, refusal to hire, refusal to promote, harassment, or any other negative action fueled by discriminatory intent.

02

Disparate Impact: Policies that Are Bad for Some and Not Others

Disparate impact relates to when an employer adopts a policy that has a more negative impact on some employees than others. These claims often arise when an employer adopts a policy that appears neutral but harms protected classes of characteristics.

03

Adverse Employment Action: Discrimination Due to a Protected Class or Characteristic

Adverse Employment Action is when an employer takes action against you due to your identity related to a protected class or characteristic (see above for definitions). Examples include lowering pay, negative write-ups, receiving fewer working hours, and termination.

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What Is Quid Pro Quo Harrasment?

Quid pro quo is a Latin phrase that means “this for that.” It is relevant in the workplace if an employer offers specific job benefits in exchange for sexual favors or if the employer threatens an adverse action unless you provide them with a sexual favor. This is sexual harassment. 

Further to this, employers are also prohibited from discriminating against employees for engaging in romantic relationships with one another outside of work hours or off work premises.

What Is An Employer’s Responsibility To Prevent or Stop Harrassment?

Employers have two responsibilities when it comes to discrimination in the workplace. The first is to make sure they don’t discriminate against their employees. The second is to make sure that their work environment is free of discrimination. If they don’t do this and harassment happens, they are at fault.

01

If They Know About It, They Are Required To Stop It

Employers have a duty to stop any discrimination they become aware of, in addition to taking reasonable steps to prevent such discrimination in the future.

02

Aiding and Abetting: Helping Someone Harrass An Employee

It is illegal to aid and abet (help someone else do something wrong) in harassment of someone in a workplace. Examples include purposefully ignoring reports of discrimination or creating an environment in which discrimination can occur.

03

The Employee’s Responsibilities To Report

If an employee is experiencing discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, they need to prove it. They also need to show that their employer knew about it but didn’t do anything to stop it, which directly caused harm to the employee.

Retaliation: What If an Employer Punishes You for Reporting?

You might be afraid that your employer will punish you if you report discrimination at work. But you should know that it’s against the law for your employer to do anything bad to you because you spoke up against discrimination. This means you have the right to file a complaint, testify in court, and assist in any discrimination proceedings without worrying about retaliation from an employer.

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What If Someone Other Than My Employer Harrassed Me at Work?

Employers can be responsible for discrimination that happens at work, even if it’s not done by them directly. This means they are responsible if someone else discriminates against you too, whether another employee or an even an outside employee (someone who works for a different company but the discrimination occurred while you were at your workplace). You have the right to get money from the people who discriminated against you and, in some cases, from the company they work for.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Handle Workplace Discrimination?

Reporting workplace discrimination can not only help you, but may also help your co-workers by providing a safe and discrimination-free work environment. If you don’t know how to handle workplace discrimination, however, you may find yourself in an uncomfortable situation.

Under California law, you may be protected from workplace discrimination and retaliation should you bring a complaint against your employer or a fellow co-worker. By law, you cannot be unfairly terminated or retaliated against because you took action against discrimination in the workplace.

If you have fallen victim to reprecussions of unfair termination or discrimination based on your age or gender, or been a victim of racial discrimination, you should consider seeking proper legal representation. Colby Law Firm can provide you with a free consultation to help determine if you have a case and what actions you could take.

Contact Colby Law Firm today for a Free Case Review.

How Do I Prove Workplace Discrimination?

Workplace Discrimination can be difficult to prove, one reason being the difficulty in understanding the nuances of discrimination law.

Although California labor laws are designed to protect employees, there are certain aspects of the laws that might require a qualified California discrimination lawyer to help you maneuver. That’s why proving workplace discrimination is often best handled with the support of proper legal representation. Colby Law Firm is an experienced Los Angeles employment law firm that can help you understand how to prove workplace discrimination.

There are critical areas that must be present to prove workplace discrimination. For example, showing clear cut evidence that a protected characteristic was discriminated against. This may include evidence regarding workplace discrimination due to age, race, religion, gender, disability, identification, or national origin. It can also be important to show that you were qualified for your position, capable of fulfilling your duties and had been doing so.

Reach out to Colby Law Firm for a free case review if you feel you may be a victim of discrimination in the workplace. One of Aaron Colby’s many strengths is that he previously represented employers, and now he has built a practice to represent employees. He has insight into what “the other side” may be considering, doing and thinking, and can prepare your claim with that knowledge in mind.

Contact Colby Law Firm today for a Free Case Review.

How Do I Report Workplace Discrimination?

Understanding how to report workplace discrimination can be challenging as there are many complex state and federal laws designed to make discrimination in the workplace illegal.

California employment laws are some of the best in the nation for protecting workers, but they can also be confusing and difficult to maneuver. Filing a workplace discrimination complaint without help from a qualified employment lawyer may even cause you to lose your claim. Even though there are laws in place to prevent employers from retaliation, having an attorney on your side can offer you another layer of protection and recourse should your employer retaliate.

It is important to understand that once you have filed your complaint, your employer will likely obtain legal counsel, hoping to prove that they didn’t discriminate against you. You will likely be in a stronger position if you have legal counsel. Colby Law Firm specializes in employment law and is here to help you. If you feel that you have been discriminated against, seriously consider making Colby Law Firm your first point of contact.

Contact Colby Law Firm today for a Free Case Review.

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say

Manny Millanponce
September 20, 2022.
So far I’m really happy with their help and consideration to help people who needs it.
Liat Frydman
March 29, 2022.
Colby Law Firm is one of the best in the business. Aaron and his staff are extremely professional, very knowledgeable kind and supportive. My experience with Colby Law Firm from the first phone call to our last text communication was superb. The end results.... they fought for me and won! I will definitely recommend Colby Law Firm to all my friends and colleagues. Liat Frydman
Joella Still
November 11, 2021.
It’s truly been a pleasure working with Aaron and the women on his team. I will definitely be referring people to them simply because they not only handled this matter professionally, but also empathetically during a really hard time for me. Dealing with wrongful termination and discrimination and especially during a global pandemic, it was really important to find an employment attorney who could understand the situation, the subtleties, nuances, etc. The case was resolved relatively quickly and I felt that they really put in the time to end up with a favorable outcome. If you choose them, you’re really in great hands.
Sajaad Shah
October 16, 2021.
Colby Law Firm got me the results I wanted, quickly. They managed my expectations properly and exceeded them in the end. They are the best employment attorneys I know, and I strongly recommend them for anyone who has questions about harassment, discrimination or wrongful termination.
Roberto Gutierrez
August 24, 2021.
Aaron and his team did an amazing job representing me. They worked really hard for me and got me a larger settlement than I had expected. They were professional, caring, and very responsive. They kept me in the loop on what was happening and if I needed help or had a question, they were very quick to respond.
Ashley Chejade-Bloom
June 7, 2021.
Aaron Colby is the best employment attorney, who will get you the results you want, every time - he is a person you want on your team. He is extremely responsive and truly cares about the businesses (and founders) he represents. I strongly recommend Colby Law Firm to anyone who has questions about harassment, discrimination or wrongful termination.
Aaron Baker
June 5, 2021.
The Colby Law Firm are the best employment attorneys. They’re a great firm for anyone who has questions about harassment, discrimination or wrongful termination. Their candid and direct approach to educating their clients sets them apart from other firms.
Jeffrey Greenblatt
June 5, 2021.
Colby Law Firm is simply remarkable. Their employment attorneys are efficient and effective, and you always know you have the sharper advocate on your side in all employment law issues (such as discrimination, harassment, unpaid wages, wrongful termination, etc). Highly recommend this law firm for anyone who needs a candid assessment with any employer/employee issues they face.

Why Choose

Colby Law Firm

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Aaron Colby is a California employment lawyer who knows how to resolve disputes. After 15 years representing companies, he started Colby Law Firm to represent employees. Aaron’s perspective and experience from being “on the other side” gives him an edge. Aaron brings his practical, focused, and relentless approach to helping employees protect their rights.

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Aaron Colby
Lead Attorney and Founder Colby Law