If you are being discriminated against in the workplace, it can be rather emotional. It can also be debilitating, but there are some steps that you can take to solve these things. We have dealt with many discrimination cases here at Neal-Lopez Law Group. In time, you will eventually need to search for workplace lawyers Los Angeles to help you with your case. If you do not take any action, more than likely, nothing will change.
What are your rights as an employee?
Every worker has a right to work in a workplace setting that is free of discrimination. This simply means that your employer, whether your boss or other management, cannot make any decisions regarding your job based on your race, religion, sex, color, disability, genetic information, or national origin. This also includes pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Your employer may also not discriminate against any employee that is over the age of 40. This right applies to all job types including promotions, firing, training, wages, decisions, and benefits. Doing so gives you the right to contact a Los Angeles workplace discrimination lawyer.
Laws & Discrimination
There are various laws that all employers must follow that prohibit workplace discrimination such as:
- Age Discrimination in Employment Act. This law prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the basis of age. This is for workers ages 40 and over.
- Americans with Disabilities Act. This law prohibits discrimination against individuals who are disabled and employers are required to make reasonable accommodations for their employees to have access to the buildings and functionality within the workplace.
- Family and Medical Leave Act- This law requires all employers to allow employees proper time off. They are also not allowed to discriminate against them for taking personal time off whether it be for family medical needs or other personal issues.
What steps do I need to take? Is there any documentation I need?
Take away any emotion. It is important to remove any emotion that you are facing if you want to file a discrimination claim with a Los Angeles workplace discrimination lawyer or any other attorney for that matter. Be sure to keep your mind on the particular details, facts, and issues at hand. You will need to provide facts to prove that your manager does not like you for example.
Keep a record of any discriminatory actions. Any notes that you write should include the date, time, location, and the people involved in the incident, as well as any witnesses. Make sure to write down the details of the incident that occurred. This information will be extremely helpful to a Los Angeles workplace discrimination attorney.
Have an option to fall back on. To some people, workplace incidents that are offensive in nature may not be enough to file a claim for discrimination. Instead, experts may look at it as poor communication or poor management. It will be helpful to talk to your manager about what you both can do to solve the problem you are having.
Report any discrimination. If everything you have tried to solve did not work, it is time to report the discrimination. This is of course if the behavior continues. A Los Angeles employment attorney can help you with this step. However, first, you should be sure to report the behavior to the management company. Once a complaint has been filed, your company will only have so much time to investigate the complaint according to the law.
Watch out for retaliation. Los Angeles workplace lawyers and many other attorneys can probably tell you how many times retaliation incidences occur. If you happen to become the victim of such, you should be sure to note this in your journal. It is very common for employees to file complaints and become the victim of retaliation later on.
Protect your rights. It is time to stand up for yourself. If you are the victim of discrimination at work, and you have done everything in your power at your employer to make these things stop with no results, it is time to contact an employment attorney Los Angeles.
Contacting a lawyer for workplace discrimination will allow you to build a case and file an administrative complaint. If your employer has done nothing to accommodate you, you will have a right to sue for all your claims. An attorney will help you when drafting your complaint which is a critical step to the claims process.