Workplace Discrimination

Have you or someone you know been a victim of workplace discrimination?
Under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), California provides a broad spectrum of anti-discrimination protections for employees, applicants, unpaid interns, volunteers, or contractors.
At Ghozland Law Firm, your protection is our top priority. Our skilled legal team is determined to provide you with the best representation to ensure that your voice is heard and your rights are protected.
Types of Discrimination
Working for a company, large or small, there may be a time where you are faced with a circumstance of unfair treatment. There are many forms of discrimination and under the FEHA, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against the protected categories featured, but not limited to:
- Race
- National origin
- Age
- Religion
- Sexual Orientation
- Sex and Gender
- Pregnancy
Racial Discrimination
Racial Discrimination in any form is a violation of an individual’s basic right to equality. In the workplace, discrimination based on race involves treating an employee, applicant, intern, or contractor differently due to their race. Whether the discrimination is hostile or accidental, the result can leave a lasting impact on your life.
Experiencing racial discrimination in the workplace is not only painful, but it is a blatant violation of both state and federal laws. There are legal remedies in place to ensure that you have the ability to pursue your legal rights to the fullest extent. At Ghozland Law Firm we believe in protecting your rights and working with you to figure out the best outcome for your situation.
National Origin Discrimination
National Origin Discrimination is unfair treatment from an employer or potential employer that is based on ethnicity, ancestry, culture, and language. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects victims of national origin discrimination as well as any form of workplace harassment that may include prejudice against the national origin of your spouse or significant other.
Discrimination based on national origin denies equal opportunity to those in pursuit of a career whether it be hiring, termination, or any other condition of employment. Contact our team today to ensure that you stand up for your right to equal opportunity.
Disability Discrimination
Both state and federal law make it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee, applicant, intern, or contractor who suffers from a protected disability whether it is mental or physical. Disability discrimination occurs in many forms, it can prevent an applicant from qualifying for a job, it can lead to an unlawful termination, and it can arise when an employer does not reasonably accommodate an employee with a qualifying disability.
Discrimination in the workplace against a disabled employee is illegal under federal law through the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as the Rehabilitation Act. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against because of a disability contact our team today to get a better understanding of the legal remedies available to you.
Age Discrimination
Treating an employee or applicant differently because of their age is a violation of federal law. The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), a federal law, makes it unlawful for employers with 20 or more employees to discriminate against anyone over the age of 40.
The protections afforded by the ADEA prevent discrimination against candidates during the application process and employees with respect to compensation, evaluations, benefit packages, potential promotions, and wrongful termination. Discrimination based on age can prevent an employee or applicant from achieving a successful career. Contact our office to learn what actions you can take today.
Religious Discrimination
Religious Discrimination is a violation of your constitutional right to practice religion freely. In the workplace, discrimination based on religion involves treating an employee or job applicant differently due to their religious beliefs or practices. If you feel as though you have been discriminated against due to your religious beliefs or practices contact our law office today to learn the legal remedies that you can pursue.
Sexual Orientation Discrimination
In the state of California, the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an employee for his or her sexual orientation. FEHA also protects employees from assumptions employers may make about their sexual orientation. If your job has been affected by an employer’s bias against your sexual orientation, Ghozland Law Firm is here to help protect your rights.
Sex and Gender Discrimination
Sex and Gender Discrimination in the workplace is illegal in the state of California. Although the fight for equality has reached new heights, there are still circumstances today where people face unfair treatment based on their sex or gender identity.
Discrimination based on sex or gender may result in an unfair wage gap, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or pregnancy discrimination. To find out the legal steps that you can take, contact our team today.
Pregnancy Discrimination
Discriminating against an individual, employee or applicant, because they are pregnant is illegal in the state of California. Under the California Pregnancy Disability Leave Law (PDLL) employers in California are required to provide up to four months of paid leave for employees that are incapacitated during pregnancy. Whenever an employee returns from their paid leave, employers are required to place them in either the same or a comparable position at the same salary.
Filing a Discrimination Claim
If you are a victim of discrimination in the workplace in any form, there are steps you can take to enact justice.
- Check your company’s discrimination policy
The policy should provide a guide for you to create an internal complaint that will start an investigation into your claim. If the internal investigation fails to provide you with acceptable results, your next step is to pursue help with an outside agency. - Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
When filing a formal complaint, you have a choice of either the EEOC or DFEH. The job of the EEOC and DFEH is to conduct an investigation and bring the two parties (you and your employer) together to determine an amicable resolution.
If you feel as though you have been denied a position, pregnancy disability leave, or terminated contact our office to get help today.

