What are the Protected Classes Under California’s Fair Employment & Housing Act?

At Romero Law, APC, our experienced employment law attorneys in Pasadena explain to each of our clients how the far-reaching California Department of Fair Employment and Housing helps protect their workplace rights.

The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) applies to public and private employers, labor organizations, and employment agencies in California and prohibits employment discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on protected classes.

It is illegal for employers of five or more employees to discriminate against job applicants and employees because of a protected category or retaliate against them because they have asserted their rights under the law.

Harassment is prohibited in all workplaces, even those with fewer than five employees.

Here is what California workers need to know about discrimination in the workplace.

What are the Protected Classes Identified in the FEHA?

California law protects individuals from illegal discrimination by employers based on the following:

• Age (40 and over)
• Ancestry, national origin
• Disability, mental and physical
• Gender identity, gender expression
• Genetic information
• Marital status
• Medical condition
• Military or veteran status
• Race
• Religion
• Gender
• Pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions
• Sexual orientation

At Romero Law, our experienced Pasadena discrimination attorneys know that not all signs of workplace misconduct are obvious. If you are a member of a protected class and believe you are being discriminated against in any way, we want to hear your story.

Contact our employment law attorneys in Pasadena today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your workplace challenges.

Discrimination Can Manifest in Varying Business Practices in California

Workplace discrimination may be hard to identify because employers and coworkers know that it is illegal, so they may mask its harmful intent in underlying business practices.

It is also illegal to discriminate against any protected class in the following business practices:

• Advertisements
• Applications, screening, and interviews
• Hiring, transferring, promoting, terminating, or separating employees
• Working conditions, including compensation
• Participation in a training or apprenticeship program, employee organization, or union

If you have been discriminated against at work, contact our California employment law firm today to discuss your case and to learn about the potential remedies that are available for your unique circumstances.

What Types of Legal Remedies Can I Pursue During a California Workplace Discrimination Claim?

Each workplace discrimination case we oversee requires an in-depth assessment that allows our attorneys to outline each client’s unique damages.

Some of the most common legal remedies for victims of employment discrimination include:

• Past and Future Lost Earnings
• Hiring / Reinstatement
• Promotion
• Out-of-Pocket Expenses
• Policy Changes
• Training
• Reasonable Accommodation(s)
• Damages for Emotional Distress
• Punitive Damages
• Attorney’s Fees and Costs

Contact Our Skilled Workplace Discrimination Attorneys in Pasadena to Schedule a Free Consultation Today

If you are experiencing discrimination in the workplace, contact our experienced Los Angeles County employment law attorney to discuss your injurious circumstances today. Our bilingual attorneys and support staff offer services in both English and Spanish and are available now to discuss your case during a free consultation by calling 626-396-9900 or contacting us online.