When you go to work, you have the right to feel safe and secure. All workplaces should be free from harassment and discrimination. Federal law prohibits discrimination in the workplace and California law takes an even tougher stance.
Recently, the California Fair Employment and Housing Council proposed new regulations further defining what it means to discriminate against someone based on their national origin. They have now clarified language to define “national origin,” strengthening laws already on the books, giving employees more rights than ever.
This is good news for California workers, as our workforce is becoming more and more diverse.
Workplace Discrimination
You may wonder exactly what workplace discrimination is because sometimes it is not overt, but often more subtle. Most people only think of racial or gender discrimination, but there are many other types of discrimination that are prohibited by law. Both state and federal law dealing with discrimination against people based on the following: race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, sex, and marital status. California also protects women who are pregnant from being discriminated against when it comes to maternity leave and fair pay.
In the past, and even now, people who fall into one or more of those groups have faced hardships in the workplace. While many companies have policies in place that prevent them from discriminatory hiring practices, what we often see is that people are discriminated against after they are hired.
Often, the discrimination is done in order to get someone to quit because employees do not want to change the workplace culture. This can be a quiet harassment that is constant and demeaning. Not only can it make for a hostile work environment, but it can also be very emotionally distressing. Many people don’t have the option of leaving their jobs when they are getting harassed or discriminated against. Many people in those groups are hired for lower pay or forced to work in jobs that are unsafe. Sometimes, they are not promoted because they belong to a certain group.
All of this can be hard to prove. Complaining to superiors can be difficult because a person may fear retaliation from coworkers. Often, it is the superior who is taking part in the discrimination. Employees may feel that they just have to put up with the discrimination so they can continue to support themselves and their families.
What To Do
At JML Law, we want you to know that you do not have to put up with discrimination in the workplace. We are ready to help you. Our workplace discrimination attorneys in Riverside believe that everyone has the right to be treated equally and fairly in the workplace regardless of where they are from, what they look like, or who they are attracted to. None of that has bearing on their job performance. You can contact us by clicking here or calling us at 818-610-8800 for a free consultation. You don’t have to put up with discriminatory behavior anymore.
