Discrimination and
Harassment

Bias in the workplace takes many forms, leading to harassment and discrimination against vulnerable employees. California has enacted many anti-discrimination laws to protect employees who fall into various protected categories, including:

• Women, including women who are pregnant or new mothers
• People of color
• People with disabilities and medical conditions, and their caretakers
• LBGTQ people
• People over the age of 40
• People seeking religious freedom
• People whose national origin is from a country outside of the United States
• Military personnel or veterans
• Victims of domestic violence

Our mission is to eliminate bias no matter what form it takes, and hold employers accountable for violating California’s laws protecting employees from unfair treatment.  Actions that fall under the category of harassment and discrimination can include:

• Sexual assault, battery or harassment — unwelcome physical and/or verbal offensive actions
• Hostility in the work environment — any prohibited activity that makes it more difficult for employees to do their work
• Negative decisions in hiring or promotions, including unequal pay
• Failure to provide adequate disability accommodations or leave
• Failure to engage in a “good faith interactive process” to identify adequate disability accommodations

Employees who suspect they may be experiencing harassment or discrimination should ask themselves the following questions:

• Do I feel uncomfortable with the behavior?
• Am I being treated differently from others?
• Were any seemingly biased statements made?
• Was I treated respectfully and reasonably? 
• Did my employer provide me with what I needed to do to do my job (as a disabled person)?
• Is my job more difficult to do because of the behavior?

If the answer to one or more of these questions is “yes,” it may be worthwhile to consult with a legal professional.