Practice Area

Workplace Discrimination

Unequal treatment based on disability, pregnancy, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or other protected characteristics.

Overview

California law prohibits employers from making employment decisions based on protected characteristics. Discrimination can occur at any stage of employment — hiring, training, promotions, discipline, compensation, medical leave, investigations, layoffs, and termination. Our firm represents employees subjected to unlawful discrimination across every protected category recognized under California law.

Section 01

Discrimination Is Often Subtle

Employers rarely admit discriminatory motives directly. Discrimination often appears through patterns of unequal treatment, selective enforcement of policies, biased investigations, exclusion from opportunities, shifting explanations, disproportionate discipline, or sudden negative treatment after an employee discloses a protected characteristic or exercises workplace rights. We analyze workplace records, personnel files, communications, timelines, witness testimony, investigations, and comparative treatment of employees to determine whether unlawful discrimination occurred.

Section 02

Protected Characteristics Under California Law

California's FEHA protects employees from discrimination based on disability or medical condition, pregnancy, race or ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, immigration status, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age (40+), marital status, and many other protected characteristics. Discrimination may also intersect with retaliation when employees experience worsening treatment after raising concerns.

Signs you may have a claim

What this looks like in real workplaces.

Disciplined more harshly than coworkers outside your protected group
Pay disparities not explained by experience or performance
Passed over for promotion despite stronger qualifications
Comments about your age, race, gender, religion, accent, or background
Sudden negative treatment after disclosing pregnancy, disability, or other protected status
Performance concerns appearing only after protected activity
Selectively enforced policies
Exclusion from training, assignments, or advancement opportunities

Applicable Law

The statutes we use to fight back.

California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)

Covers employers with 5+ employees. Protects more characteristics and provides stronger remedies than federal law.

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

Federal protection against discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Applies to employers with 15+ employees.

California Equal Pay Act

Requires equal pay for substantially similar work regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity.

What you may recover

Damages we pursue.

Back pay and front pay
Emotional distress damages
Punitive damages where warranted
Attorney's fees and costs
Injunctive relief (reinstatement, policy changes)

Frequently Asked

Questions about workplace discrimination.

Do I need direct evidence of discrimination to win?

No. Most discrimination cases are proven through circumstantial evidence — patterns of treatment, statistical disparities, comparators, and pretext analysis. Direct evidence (a written slur, for example) is rare and not required.

What's the difference between FEHA and Title VII?

FEHA covers more employers (5+ vs. 15+), more protected categories, and generally provides stronger remedies. We typically pursue claims under both when available.

Can I be discriminated against if I'm in a majority group?

Yes. Discrimination law protects against treatment based on a protected characteristic — regardless of which side of that characteristic you fall on.

Free consultation

Talk to us about your situation.

Every case is different. The only way to know what yours is worth is to talk to a lawyer who handles these matters every day.

Free consultation
No-obligation, no pressure conversation
No fee unless we win
Contingency fee — you pay nothing up front
Discreet & private
We treat every consultation with care and discretion