Allegations relating to harassment and discrimination at Los Angeles’ Salk Institute have been circulating for some time now, and the issue has been compounded by a further 8 women recently coming forward to state they were subjected to sexual harassment at the hands of Salk researcher, Inder Verma. The allegations were brought to the journal, Science, according to whom the harassment took place between 1976 and 2016. The women who approached Science to make the claims about the biologist include inappropriate and unwelcome touching and grabbing of various body parts amongst their complaints.
These most recent accusations come several months after harassment and discrimination at the privately-run institute first came to light in the summer 2017 when three female academics separately sued the institution for gender-based harassment. These three professors, Victoria Lundblad, Katherine Jones, and Beverley Emerson, have described the Salk Institute as a male-dominated environment, where females are systematically overlooked for funding, promotion, salaries, lab space, and more.
In the wake of these allegations, there have been some changes in senior management at Salk Institute, although it would appear that there may be more to come.
JML Law Attorneys Are Highly Experienced in Handling Workplace Discrimination Claims
As demonstrated by the Salk Institute allegations, harassment and discrimination can and do, happen in any kind of working environment. Of course, our Los Angeles discrimination attorneys already knew that, as we have handled countless cases relating to discrimination in its various guises, meaning we are all too aware of just how rife the issue continues to be.
You may not be aware of exactly what constitutes discrimination in a workplace but, if you have been subjected to any behavior which makes you feel as though you are being treated differently due to your gender, religion, race, or other characteristics, you should discuss it with an attorney to find out if you have a valid case.
Under California law, as is applicable in Riverside and surrounding areas, discrimination can include, but is not limited to, the following scenarios:
- Disability discrimination, where an employee is treated unfavorably due to a physical or mental disability, or because he or she is perceived to have a disability. Such behavior is prohibited under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.
- Sex and gender discrimination, which is prohibited by both state and federal laws, including FEHA.
- Discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy, childbirth or any related medical conditions.
- Discrimination against an employee due to religious beliefs, dress, or time off for religious occasions and events.
- Race and national origin discrimination, including discrimination based on skin color.
- Age discrimination, which is applicable where the employee is aged 40 or over.
No form of discrimination is acceptable, and a JML Law Los Angeles discrimination attorney will work tirelessly to secure a successful outcome on your behalf, whatever form the discrimination against you has taken.
To schedule a free consultation and find out how our extensive legal expertise could be used in your favor, call us today on 818-610-8800.
