Orange County discrimination lawyer

Employment Discrimination Complaints in California

Filing a lawsuit against a current, former or potential employer is a frightening experience, especially if one plans to continue working at the same place after the suit is settled. If you are considering a lawsuit against a discriminatory employer, you are probably wondering what the process will be like.

In California, complaints about discrimination are generally handled by the state’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). This organization has jurisdiction over state and private businesses in California, and is devoted to enforcing state laws on fairness and discrimination.

The law relevant to most employment discrimination cases is the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (CFHA). This law is more expansive than its federal equivalent, the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Like the Civil Rights Act, it bans discrimination against people based on their race, color, religion, sex and national origin. In addition, the CFHA also forbids discrimination based on age (40 and over), ancestry, disability (including HIV), marital status, medical condition (including genetics), national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

If you have experienced discrimination on the job, you have one year to file a complaint with the DFEH; if you wait too long, you will not be able to file your complaint. The department will investigate your complaint as soon as they are able. This will involve interviewing you, your employer and any witnesses who seem relevant. The department’s first goal will be to act and assign mediators to try to resolve the issue you are having with your workplace. If they cannot do this, they will provide you with legal representation if necessary.

If you have experienced workplace discrimination and need to determine whether you have grounds for a lawsuit, contact Orange County Discrimination lawyer Perry Smith at (888) 356-2529.