Employees across California have certain rights in the workplace. And given the amount of time employees spend at work, they should be able to do their job without being subjected to harassment, discrimination, unsafe conditions, or other unlawful treatment. Unfortunately, these things can and do occur in workplaces throughout California, and when employees report mistreatment, hazards, or illegal activity, they often find themselves facing retaliation from their employer. When situations like this occur in the workplace, an experienced, compassionate employment law attorney can help.
At Maison Law, our experienced California Labor and Employment Lawyers help victims of workplace retaliation understand their employment rights and explore their options for compensation. Here’s what you should know about California workplace retaliation cases and how our esteemed lawyers can fight to help you recover fair compensation.
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) is the primary means of legal protection for both public and private employees in California. It provides protection from discrimination, retaliation and harassment in the workplace for employers with five or more full-time employees. Furthermore, federal protections for many of the same nondiscrimination and harassment principles also apply under the FEHA. The FEHA makes it illegal for employers to engage in discrimination, retaliation and harassment in all terms and conditions of employment based on all of the following protected categories:
- Race
- Color
- Religion
- Age
- Gender identity, gender expression
- Sexual orientation
- Pregnancy
- Marital status
- Medical Condition
- Military or veteran status
- National origin
- Ancestry
- Disability
- Genetic information
- Request for family care leave
- Request for leave for an employee’s own serious health condition
- Request for Pregnancy Disability Leave
- Retaliation for reporting patient abuse
On top of protecting individuals, the FEHA also prohibits retaliation against any person for making a complaint of FEHA violations, for assisting another in making such a complaint or for opposing any action in the workplace that would constitute a violation of the FEHA.
Recognizing Retaliation in the California Workplace
Because of the wide variety of protected classes of employees in California, workplace retaliation can take many forms. In general though, retaliation is usually defined as those actions intended to punish an employee for reporting wrongdoing to human resources or law enforcement or seeking legal counsel. Common examples of retaliation include:
- Being fired from your position
- Being demoted to a lower-ranking or lower-paying position
- Being denied a promotion
- Being harassed (sexually or otherwise)
- Being excluded from staff meetings, training exercises, or other activities available to other employees
- Being given undesirable work assignments or schedules
- Having your pay or hours reduced
- Being written-up for unwarranted reasons
- Receiving negative performance review
- Losing employee benefits
Suffering workplace retaliation can be extremely demoralizing and have far-reaching implications for employees as they attempt to move forward with their lives. If you believe you have suffered retaliation in the workplace for reporting harassment or discrimination, our team of experienced, compassionate California employment lawyers can help you understand your rights and how to take the next steps.
Our California Employment Lawyers Will Hold Your Employer Accountable
Employer retaliation can turn even the best jobs into unsafe, despairing places to work. At Maison Law, we are proud to stand by your side, build a strong case, and help you obtain the best possible outcome for your situation. Our California employment lawyers can help you understand your case so that you will not have to face your employer alone and can hold them accountable for their wrongful actions. If you would like to discuss your legal options, call us today for a free consultation.
