What to Do About Workplace Discrimination

Every workplace comes with its own set of trials and difficulties; however, discrimination shouldn’t be one of them. The federal government and California both protect workers from experiencing workplace discrimination on the basis of the following:

• Age
• Sex
• Ancestry
• Disability
• Military or veteran status
• National origin
• Color
• Medical condition
• Genetic information
• Gender, gender identity, or gender expression
• Race
• Marital status
• Sexual orientation
• Religion

Laws enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on the federal level and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) on the state level protect you from discrimination on both fronts, so you can pursue a case without fear of repercussion.

The first thing you need to do is make your employer aware you feel discriminated against. Many illegal acts of discrimination and harassment go unrecognized because the victim doesn’t make it clear the conduct is unacceptable. If you let your employer know you are taking the matter seriously by asking for a written report every time you experience discrimination, he or she is likely to take action. Employers are required by law to give prompt consideration to all reports of discrimination or harassment.

After you’ve talked to your employer, if he or she hasn’t acted on your complaints, you can take your case to the EEOC. Keep a diary of all incidents of discrimination and record the date as evidence of what is occurring.

Review your company’s anti-discrimination policy. If there is something in writing, it may serve to benefit your position if you have a copy of the policy. If your employer refuses to do anything about the problem, even after the government has become involved, you can pursue a lawsuit.

Talk to one of our skilled San Jose discrimination attorneys about your case as soon as possible. We can help you build a case and defend it against any lawyer your employer hires in defense of himself or herself. Habbas & Associates can help you through this stressful time and get you the justice you deserve.

Contact us at (888) 387-4053 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.