Get Justice When California Employers Discriminate on the Basis of Race
Hold employers accountable if they use your race to fire you, fail to hire you, don’t promote you, or otherwise harm your career
Since 2007, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) of the United States has received over 30,000 race related employment complaints each year. Race discrimination is all too common. Discrimination based on race is illegal in California and in the United States. Race discrimination affects the ability to get a job and to keep a job. It also affects a worker’s pay, benefits, opportunities for advancement, working conditions and other factors that unjustly deprive someone of the ability to earn a living.
Our California racial discrimination attorneys understand the trauma of being targeted because of one’s race. We know that often discrimination is subtle instead of direct. At Stephan Danz and Associates, we have over 100 years of combined experience fighting for those who just want the same rights and chances as everyone else. Our lawyers bring racial discrimination cases before the EEOC, state agencies, and in state and federal court. We have the experience and professional relationships to determine if race was the reason someone lost a job position they were denied the opportunity for.
What is race discrimination?
Race discrimination means treating an applicant or an employee unfavorably because of their race or racial characteristics such as hair texture or other identifying characteristics. It also includes things like treating someone differently if they are married to someone of a different race or just because they associate with someone of a different race. Racial discrimination can even occur when both the employer and the employee are the same race. Racial discrimination is similar to – but not identical to discrimination based on one’s skin color. The laws that apply to racial discrimination generally also apply to discrimination based on one’s skin color.
Discrimination in the workplace can take many forms. Common examples include discrimination in:
- Hiring, firing, or job promotion
- Job assignments
- Training
- Fringe benefits
- Any condition of employment
- Work conditions such as being assigned to geographical areas that are primarily black
Harassment such as racial slurs and offensive remarks can be a basis for discrimination if the harassment is so severe that it creates a hostile or intimidating environment for the employee. Employers create hostile environments, unbearable work conditions, in the hope that the employee will just quit. The employer, a supervisor, a co-worker or even a client or customer may individually or in combination harass a worker to make the employee uncomfortable enough to quit.
What race discrimination laws apply to employment?
The main federal law that regulates discrimination based on race is Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Our California race discrimination lawyers often bring Title VII claims before the EEOC and before state and federal judges. We work to prove that the employer is covered under the Act and that discrimination did take place.
Title VII applies to state and local government employers, private employers, and educational institutions – if there are 15 more employees. Title VII also applies to private and public employment agencies, labor unions and some other joint labor organizations.
The California law that controls state racial discrimination cases is the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Our state attorneys explain which employers are covered and which acts are prohibited.
What remedies are available?
Our Los Angeles and California race discrimination lawyers demand every remedy that applies. Some of the more common remedies, depending on what negative conduct the employer actually performed, include;
- Reinstatement
- Back pay
- Getting the Job
- Being promoted
- Front pay
- Punitive damages to the punish the employer for wrongful conduct
- Medical benefits, vacation time, and other benefits
- Legal fees
- Expert witness fees
- Court costs
Workers may also be entitled to damages for pain and suffering. Employers may even be required to post notices addressing the complaint so other employees understand what happened. California employers may also be required to take steps to prevent the improper conduct from happening again.
Speak with one of our trusted race discrimination lawyers today
Don’t delay in contacting us. Employers rarely show direct discrimination for example: – “I’m not hiring you because you are black or Hispanic or Asian or some other race” so it is important to gather information. Racial discrimination cases require a lot of investigation into what happened, a thorough review of the employer’s human resource records, taking statements of co-workers and supervisors, and analyzing forms of evidence. Sometimes our California race discrimination lawyers use statistics to help prove racial discrimination. At Stephen Danz & Associates, we represent clients across the state. Please call us now at (877)-789-9707 or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.