Standing Up to Unlawful Workplace Practices
Chami Law provides aggressive, experienced representation to individuals and groups of employees throughout Southern California who have experienced workplace discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, and other unlawful employment practices.
Our team takes the time to understand what happened, evaluate the circumstances of your case, explain your legal options, and determine whether you may have a viable claim. If you believe your rights have been violated at work, you do not have to navigate the situation alone. Contact Chami Law today for a free and confidential consultation to learn about your rights and options.
California Law Protects Employees Against Discrimination, Retaliation & Wrongful Termination
California has some of the most comprehensive laws protecting employees against workplace discrimination, retaliation, and harassment in the country. The Fair Employment and Housing Act, or “FEHA,” protects California employees from discrimination, retaliation, and harassment based on protected characteristics like gender, disability, race, national origin, age, and sexuality. The following classes are protected under California’s anti-discrimination laws:
- Age: Employers may not discriminate against an employee or job applicant based on age if the person is over 40. This means employers cannot use age as a deciding factor in hiring, firing, benefits, pay, job duties, or training.
- Disability: Employers cannot discriminate against someone because of an actual or perceived disability. Under the FEHA, a disability is generally defined as a physical or mental condition that limits a major life activity, such as working.
- Pregnancy: It is against the law for employers to treat a person unfavorably because of pregnancy, childbirth, or any other related medical condition, such as pregnancy-related disability.
- Race, National Origin or Ethnicity: Employers are prohibited from using a person’s race, national origin, color, or ethnicity in an employment decision or taking adverse employment actions against an employee on account of their race, national origin, color, or ethnicity.
- Religion: Employers may not use a person’s religion to make an employment decision, such as hiring, firing, promotions, training opportunities, etc. Employers must also provide reasonable accommodations for people to take time off for religious holidays.
- Gender or Sexual Orientation: California prohibits discrimination based on sex, gender, or sexual orientation, whether an employer is interviewing job applicants, deciding who to promote, or setting an employee’s pay.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is another type of illegal discrimination. In the traditional type of quid pro quo harassment, the supervisor threatens the subordinate with unfavorable job treatment, or conditions favorable treatment, based on the subordinate’s compliance with requests for sexual favors or other romantic involvement.
The law also recognizes sexual harassment through the creation of a hostile environment, which involves unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that is so severe and pervasive that it creates a threatening or intimidating atmosphere. A hostile environment may result from offensive touching, rude comments, obscene gestures, or inappropriate graphic materials in the workplace. Moreover, a hostile environment can be created not only by a supervisor but also by co-workers. Harassment in this context can be conducted by females toward males as well as males toward females, and by members of the same sex as well.
Employers are prohibited from discriminating against employees who utilize their right to family medical leave. The FMLA and CFRA provide that a full-time employee with at least 12 months of consecutive service may take a period of up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for personal medical leave (such as pregnancy or other serious medical conditions) or family medical leave (such as to care for a parent or other immediate family member) without being terminated, demoted, or otherwise discriminated against. However, many employers in Southern California are notorious for violating CFRA and FMLA laws.
Family Leave Discrimination (FMLA/CFRA)
When wrongful termination or workplace discrimination claims arise after returning from family medical leave, the employer must prove the termination or adverse employment action resulted from a non-family leave-related issue.
Additional California Law that Prohibits Retaliation and Discrimination
California law provides employees and job applicants with important protections against unlawful discrimination and retaliation. The California Labor Commissioner enforces several laws designed to protect workers from these practices. Learn more about the California laws that prohibit workplace discrimination and retaliation, and the protections they provide.
When Workplace Injustice Affects More Than One Employee
Unfortunately, when an employee experiences workplace injustice, they are often not the only one. An employer’s unlawful policy, practice, or pattern of conduct can affect an entire group of employees in similar ways. When appropriate, Chami Law represents employees in class action cases involving widespread or systematic workplace violations.
A class action allows one or more employees to bring a claim on behalf of a larger group of people who have experienced the same or similar unlawful conduct. Rather than requiring each employee to pursue an individual case, a class action lets employees with common claims seek relief together. Class actions can be especially important when an employer implements a policy or practice that affects many employees. They can help employees stand together, share the costs and resources involved in pursuing complex litigation, and seek a remedy for unlawful conduct that may otherwise go unchallenged. In appropriate cases, a successful class action may allow affected employees to recover unpaid wages, damages, penalties, or other relief available under the law.
If you believe you and other employees have been subjected to the same unlawful workplace practice, you may have options. Contact Chami Law for a free and confidential consultation to discuss what happened, learn about your rights, and determine whether a class action or another legal strategy may be appropriate for your circumstances.
Why Choose Chami Law?
When you are facing discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or wrongful termination, choosing the right attorney can make all the difference. At Chami Law, we understand that workplace disputes are deeply personal and can significantly affect your career, finances, and future, which is why we take the time to understand your situation, explain your rights, and build a legal strategy tailored to your circumstances.
We Always Put You First
Your case is personal, and we treat it that way. We listen to your concerns, take your experience seriously, and make sure you understand what is happening at every stage of your case. You should never feel like just another case number.
We Understand How Employers Defend These Claims
Employers and their attorneys often have significant resources and experience defending workplace claims. Because we understand the tactics employers may use, we can anticipate challenges, investigate the facts thoroughly, and develop a strong strategy to protect your interests.
We Keep You Informed
The legal process can be overwhelming, especially when you are already dealing with a difficult situation at work. We believe you deserve clear, straightforward communication. Our team keeps you informed, answers your questions, and makes sure you understand your options so you can make informed decisions about your case.
We Are Committed to Your Case
We do not believe in rushing through a case to reach a quick resolution. We take the time to investigate what happened, identify the evidence that can support your claim, and pursue the outcome that best serves your interests. Whether you are pursuing an individual claim or are part of a group of employees who have experienced similar unlawful conduct, we are committed to advocating for you every step of the way.
Take the First Step to Protecting Your Rights
If you believe you have experienced discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, or another unlawful workplace practice, you do not have to figure it out on your own. Contact Chami Law for a free and confidential consultation. During your consultation, our team will listen to what happened, ask questions about your situation, and help you understand whether your rights may have been violated. We can explain the laws that may apply to your circumstances, discuss your potential legal options, and help you understand what steps you may want to take next.
Time may be critical to protecting your rights. Many employment claims are subject to strict deadlines under the Labor Code and other worker-protection laws, some as short as six months. If you believe you have been wrongfully treated in the workplace, it is important to speak with our team as soon as possible to understand your rights and preserve your potential claims. The sooner you reach out, the sooner you can understand your rights and protect your ability to pursue a claim.
