Woodland Hills Racial Discrimination Lawyers

Advocating for Equality and Justice

Experiencing racial discrimination in the workplace can be emotionally devastating. It can prevent you from getting a deserved promotion, hinder your career opportunities, and lead to a wrongful termination. You may fear reporting your employer due to the possibility of retaliation.

Treating employees differently based on race is completely unacceptable and it could be keeping you from achieving your potential. There are many state and federal laws protecting you from employment discrimination. Our Woodland Hills racial discrimination lawyers have years of experience in employment discrimination matters. We are well-equipped to handle your case and will work to help you get the financial resources you need.

Get experienced legal help with your racial discrimination claim. Contact us online or call our law firm in Woodland Hills, CA at (818) 918-5522.

Understanding Racial Discrimination in Employment

California employers with five or more employees are subject to the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which forbids covered employers from discriminating against employees or job applicants because of their ethnicity or race. Furthermore, the FEHA prohibits all California employers (including those with fewer than five employees) from harassing employees, contractors, job applicants, or unpaid volunteers because of their race or ethnicity.

Illegal racial discrimination in the workplace can take many forms, including:

• Refusing to hire on the basis of race or ethnicity. A covered employer cannot choose not to hire you because of your race or ethnicity. Red flags present in job advertisements or during the interviewing process may suggest a racial bias that warrants further scrutiny.
• Firing on the basis of race or ethnicity. A covered employer cannot fire you or lay you off because of your race or ethnicity. Employers will almost never directly reveal they are dismissing you for discriminatory reasons, however, so you should watch out for any comments, attitudes, or trends that may suggest discriminatory intent. If you notice only employees of certain races seem to be affected by layoffs, for example, you could have a case.
• Unfair compensation or employment benefits because of race or ethnicity. A covered employer cannot pay you less or offer you fewer or less valuable benefits than another employee with similar experience and job responsibilities because of your race or ethnicity. If a fellow employee of another race with the same job title and approximate level of experience is making significantly more than you or enjoys benefits you were not offered, you should consider getting legal advice.
• Unfavorable job assignments due to race or ethnicity. A covered employer cannot assign you undesirable tasks or shifts due to your race or ethnicity. You may have a case if you notice you are exclusively getting the most inconvenient shifts and arduous assignments while those of another race or ethnicity seem to get preferential treatment. Remember, constant unfavorable job assignments can be a form of retaliation.
• Denied promotion opportunities because of race or ethnicity. Being passed over for a promotion always hurts, but losing out on an opportunity because of racial discrimination hurts even more. If someone of another race or ethnicity with demonstrably fewer qualifications receives a promotion over you despite your exemplary track record, you could have a case. Proving racial discrimination in these scenarios tends to be easier when there is a clear pattern of not giving promotions to employees of certain races or ethnicities.
• Denied training opportunities due to race or ethnicity. Not being offered training and growth opportunities given to other employees can sometimes be a form of racial discrimination.

Covered employers also cannot create a policy that has a disproportionately negative effect on people of a particular race. In general, creating a hostile work environment for an employee or employees due to their race is considered a type of racial discrimination.

If you are not sure whether you have a strong case, turn to our Woodland Hills racial discrimination lawyers. We can review your circumstances and help you understand your legal options.