Riverside Workplace Discrimination & Sexual Harassment Lawyer
Experiencing any kind of discrimination in a Riverside workplace can be demoralizing and detrimental to an employee’s well-being. It is critical for employees and employers alike to recognize that there are many forms of discrimination that are unlawful in the California workplace under federal and state law. Whether you are a potential or current employee who has been subject to workplace discrimination, or you are an employer who is facing allegations of workplace discrimination, an experienced Riverside workplace discrimination lawyer at our firm can assess your case for you today and can discuss options for moving forward.
Understanding Workplace Discrimination in Riverside
Workplace discrimination can take many different forms, and it can occur in the process of hiring (such as in advertisements for job positions), assessing work performance for purposes of promotions and benefits, and firing. While federal and state laws provide a variety of protections against discrimination in the workplace, California state laws tend to provide more protections than federal law, including but not limited to protections against discrimination based on the following categories:
- Race;
- Color;
- Ancestry;
- National origin;
- Religion;
- Disability;
- Age;
- Sex;
- Gender;
- Sexual orientation;
- Gender identity and gender expression;
- Medical conditions;
- Genetic information; and
- Marital status.
The California Fair Employment in Housing Act (FEHA) provides a majority of protections against workplace discrimination in the state, while federal laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and other relevant statutes.
Sexual Harassment and Sex Discrimination in Riverside, CA
Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination under both federal and state law. For claims brought under the California FEHA, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) oversees cases. For sexual harassment claims brought under federal law, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) handles claims.
The EEOC makes clear that “it is unlawful to harass a person (an applicant or employee) because of that person’s sex,” and the EEOC explains that sexual harassment can include “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature.” It is essential to understand that sexual harassment can also occur even if the behavior is not sexual in nature but rather involves language or behavior concerning another person’s sex. Examples of sexual harassment may include but are not limited to:
- Unwanted touching;
- Sharing or displaying sexually inappropriate or suggestive images or materials;
- Making offensive comments about a person’s sex (such as offensive comments about women in the workplace); or
- Quid pro quo sexual harassment, or when an employer makes an employee feel as though a job benefit is tied to that employee submitting to the employer’s sexual advance.
Contact Our Riverside Workplace Discrimination Lawyers
If you have questions about filing a workplace discrimination claim or if you are facing a discrimination claim from a current or former employee, one of our experienced Riverside workplace discrimination attorneys can speak with you today. We routinely assist clients with employment discrimination claims, including sexual harassment in the California workplace. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us to learn more about how we can assist you. Contact the Law Office of Karen J. Sloat, APC for more information about our services.
