If you were fired illegally in California, you may want to speak with a California wrongful termination lawyer. Racial discrimination is prohibited by both state and federal laws, and you have protections in place to help you fight your employer. You can ask to be compensated for the damages you suffered because of being a discrimination in the workplace victim. Here is a closer look at how to address the matter.
What Is Racial Discrimination In The Workplace?
Racial discrimination in the workplace involves treating an employee or an applicant unfavorably because he or she is of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with a specific race, such as his or her hair texture, certain facial features, or skin color. In many cases, racial discrimination is obvious while at other times, it may not be as apparent.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits employers from doing the following:
- Failing or refusing to hire an employee based on their race
- Firing or disciplining an employee because of their race
- Paying an employee less or providing them fewer benefits on account of their race
- Failing to provide benefits, promotions, or opportunities, to an employee because of their race
- Improperly classifying or segregating employees or applicants by race
What Laws Protect Employees From Racial Discrimination In California?
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (CFEHA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protect California employees from racial discrimination. The CFEHA prohibits discrimination in the following:
- 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
While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits denying employment based on race, firing or discipling a worker because of race, paying them less or offering fewer benefits because of race, or improperly classifying a worker because of race.
What Should I Do If I Experience Racial Discrimination In California?
If you suffered workplace racial discrimination in California, you should gather all your supporting evidence and documentation then report the details to your manager or to the human resources (HR) department. If the matter is not resolved, then file a claim with the EEOC or CFEHA. You do have limited time to pursue a claim, so you should act promptly. If you wait too long, your claim will be denied, and you cannot get compensation for your damages. If the EEOC or CFEHA does not resolve the claim, you should receive a Right to Sue letter. When you receive that letter, you should file a lawsuit against your employer.
Get Help From A Discrimination Lawyer Who Takes Cases In California
If you have been the victim of workplace racial discrimination, enlist the help of a California workplace discrimination attorney. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form to share the details of your claim with an independent, participating attorney who subscribes to the website and takes cases in California.
Additional Resources
- How to Write a National Origin Discrimination Letter
- Filing a Wrongful Termination Claim with the California Labor Board
- Employment Law Trends in 2023
- List of EEOC Offices in California
- What Does a Racial Discrimination Attorney Do?
- What Is National Origin Discrimination?
- What is the CROWN Act?
