If you feel that you were not hired or promoted, or fired because of your race, then you may have a cause of action against your employer. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that gives you protection.
Additionally, the Fair Employment and Housing Act creates a State cause of action for employees. Are you facing racial discrimination in the workplace? Consider speaking to our proven Los Angeles work discrimination lawyers about your specific situation by calling (310) 499-0140.
Why Choose Our Race Discrimination Law Firm?
Since 1999, founding attorney Navid Yadegar has represented workers throughout California in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination matters. Here’s what sets us apart:
85+ Years of Combined Legal Experience: Our attorneys bring more than 85 years of collective experience representing California employees in workplace disputes, including pregnancy discrimination, retaliation, harassment, disability discrimination, and wrongful termination claims.
Award-Winning Representation: Founding attorney Navid Yadegar has practiced employment law since 1999 and has earned numerous honors, including an AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, a 10.0 Avvo Rating, and recognition as a Southern California Super Lawyer for more than a decade.
Proven Results for Employees: Our firm has secured significant verdicts, judgments, arbitration awards, and settlements for workers whose employers violated state and federal employment laws, including multi-million-dollar recoveries in discrimination and retaliation cases.
Big-Firm Experience, Boutique-Firm Attention: Our unique background combines big-firm resources with a small-firm feel. Having honed their skills in some of the largest law firms in the city, our discrimination attorneys in LA County deliver top-tier expertise paired with an intimate client-attorney relationship.
Meet Our Race Discrimination Attorneys in Los Angeles
Meet the proven pregnancy discrimination lawyers serving Los Angeles County at Yadegar, Minoofar, & Soleymani LLP. Navid Yadegar has represented corporate and individual clients in all aspects of employment-related matters such as sexual harassment, employment discrimination, workplace retaliation and wrongful termination.
Pedram Minoofar counsels clients and litigates numerous other types of disputes including, corporate, partnership, and limited liability company dissolutions, and other commercial disputes.
Navid Soleymani handles business litigation and employment litigation for individual and corporate clients in a wide range of industries, from small businesses to large publicly traded corporations.
How To Prove Race Discrimination at Work in Los Angeles?
In a racial discrimination case, you typically need to establish the following to hold an employer responsible:
- Protected Characteristic: You must show that you experienced discrimination based on your race, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
- Adverse Employment Action: Proof that you suffered some form of adverse employment action. This could be anything from being denied a promotion, being terminated, receiving a demotion, or experiencing a hostile work environment.
- Causal Connection: You must establish a causal connection between your protected characteristic and the adverse employment action. This means demonstrating that the discrimination was a significant factor in the employer’s decision.
- Comparable Treatment: It can be beneficial to show that other employees who were not part of your racial or ethnic group were treated more favorably in similar circumstances. This helps illustrate that the disparate treatment is based on race.
- Company Knowledge or Negligence: If you’re pursuing a claim against your employer, you need to demonstrate that the employer knew or should have known about the discrimination and failed to take appropriate corrective action.
- Good Faith Reporting (if applicable): If you reported the discrimination, you should show that you did so in good faith and followed any internal reporting procedures as required by the company.
Gather as much evidence as possible to support your claim. For example:
- Documentation on Incidents: A detailed record of any incidents of racial discrimination is critical. Include dates, times, locations, people involved, and descriptions of what happened.
- Witness Statement: If there were any witnesses to the discriminatory behavior, try to gather their contact information. They may be able to provide testimony to support your case.
- Relevant Communications: Keep emails, text messages, or any other written communication that may be related to the discrimination.
- Record of Following Company Procedures: Paper trail of you following your company’s specific procedures for reporting discrimination. This demonstrates that you acted in good faith because you gave your employer an opportunity to address the issue.
- Documentation on Retaliation: If you report discrimination and experience any form of retaliation (such as being fired, demoted, or facing a hostile work environment), document these incidents as well.
- Gather any Other Supporting Evidence: This could include performance evaluations, promotions, or any other relevant documents that may help demonstrate a pattern of discriminatory behavior.
How Can a Los Angeles Race Discrimination Lawyer Help?
If you are a victim of racial discrimination in the workplace in California, an attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options and advocate on your behalf to protect your interests. Here are some examples of how a Los Angeles race discrimination lawyer from our law firm can help:
- Evaluating your claim: A lawyer from our law firm can evaluate your claim of racial discrimination and determine whether you have a valid case. We can review the evidence, interview witnesses, and assess the strength of your claim.
- Filing a complaint or lawsuit: We can help you file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or file a lawsuit on your behalf in state or federal court.
- Negotiating a settlement: We can negotiate a settlement with your employer to pursue compensation for your damages and resolve your case outside of court when appropriate.
- Representing you in court: If your case goes to trial, our attorneys can represent you in court and present your case to a judge or jury.
- Protecting you from retaliation: We can help protect you from retaliation by your employer or coworkers because you reported discrimination or exercised your legal rights.
- Providing guidance and support: Our Los Angeles race discrimination lawyers can guide you through every stage of the legal process, explain your options, and work to protect your rights.
When choosing an attorney, it is important to work with an Los Angeles employment attorney who has experience handling employment discrimination claims and a proven record of representing employees in similar cases.
If you are facing another form of workplace discrimination, such as pregnancy discrimination in Los Angeles, an experienced attorney can help you navigate the legal process and pursue the compensation and justice you deserve. Keep in mind that strict deadlines apply to filing administrative complaints and lawsuits, so it is important to act promptly.
Can I Be Fired for Reporting Racial Discrimination?
California has various protections in place to prevent employer retaliation, which means you cannot be legally fired for reporting racial discrimination. Here are some key protections to consider:
- California has strong anti-discrimination laws: The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits racial discrimination in the workplace.
- Protection against retaliation: FEHA also protects employees from retaliation for reporting discrimination or harassment. This means your employer cannot fire you, demote you, or take any adverse action against you for making a good faith complaint about racial discrimination.
If your employer retaliates against you:
- Document everything: Keep records of any incidents of racial discrimination, as well as any communications related to your complaint. This can serve as evidence in case you need to take legal action.
- Consult an employment lawyer: It is highly advisable to seek the advice of an employment lawyer who is familiar with California labor laws. They can provide you with specific guidance based on your situation.
- File a complaint with the appropriate agency: You can file a complaint with the state’s Civil Rights Department (CRD) or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) if you believe you have been a victim of discrimination and/or fired for reporting it.
- Consider legal action: Depending on the circumstances, you may have grounds to pursue legal action against your employer for wrongful termination or retaliation. Your wrongful termination lawyer in LA can guide you on the best course of action.
Experiencing Discrimination at Work?
Call Our Discrimination Lawyer in L.A. for a free consultation
What Laws Protect Me From Race Discrimination in the Workplace?
The time limit for filing a racial discrimination claim can vary depending on which agency you file with:
CRD
You typically have three years from the date of the alleged racial discrimination to file a complaint with the Civil Rights Department (CRD).
EEOC
You generally have 300 days from the date of the alleged discriminatory act to file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Lawsuit Statute of Limitations
If you receive a right-to-sue notice from the EEOC or CRD, you also have a limited time to file a lawsuit if you choose to. If the notice comes from the EEOC, you have 90 days and if the notice comes from the CRD, you have up to one year.
What is Race Discrimination in the Workplace in California?
Racial discrimination in the workplace in California is defined as any adverse employment action or harassment that is based on an employee’s actual or perceived race or ethnicity. Racial discrimination is prohibited by state and federal laws, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Examples of racial discrimination in the workplace can include:
- Hiring, firing or promoting employees based on their race or ethnicity
- Providing different terms or conditions of employment based on race or ethnicity
- Making derogatory or offensive comments about an employee’s race or ethnicity
- Creating a hostile work environment based on an employee’s race or ethnicity
- Segregating employees based on race or ethnicity
It is also important that the employee has made it clear that the comments and actions of others have been bothering them and they wish it to stop. This includes reporting the harassment to a supervisor or HR. Employers must take all reasonable actions to prevent harassment in the workplace.
Even if the comments are infrequent, they can still have a damaging effect on employees. If the harassment continues even after the employee has discussed it with a supervisor, the complainant will have a stronger case based on the fact that they approached both the violator as well as the supervisor about the harassment.
If you believe you have been the victim of racial discrimination in the workplace in California, you may have legal options available to you. But it is important to note that not all unfair treatment in the workplace is considered illegal discrimination. Reach out to our experienced workplace harassment attorney in LA County.
Other Types of Discrimination We Handle
- Disability
- National Origin
- Pregnancy
- Race
- Religious
- Sex & Gender
- Sexual Orientation