San Francisco Discrimination Attorney

Despite numerous laws meant to protect workers, many individuals still face illegal discrimination in the workplace or during the hiring process. It can be overt, but it can also be subtle, sometimes going unnoticed in a company for years. Discrimination can slow or even halt an individual’s career progress, potentially costing them tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If you have faced unlawful discrimination on the job, you have the right to file a discrimination claim and may even be eligible to seek compensation for your related damages. To learn more and discuss your case, contact the Law Offices of Alan F. Cohen today to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced employment lawyer.

What is Employment Discrimination?

It’s important to understand that not all instances of separate treatment in the workplace are considered discrimination. Employers may sometimes engage in conduct that is unfair but not necessarily illegal. However, the law does prohibit employers from discriminating against employees or potential employees based on any protected characteristic, including:

• Race
• Nation of origin
• Color
• Religion
• Pregnancy
• Disability or medical condition
• Gender identity or expression
• Citizenship status
• Age (if over 40)
• Genetic information
• Marital status
• Veteran or military status

When Does Employment Discrimination Happen?

Discrimination can take many forms, including harassment by superiors or fellow workers based on any of the above characteristics, denial of reasonable workplace accommodations based on a disability or due to religion, or retaliation for engaging in legally protected activities, such as filing a complaint about employment discrimination or sexual harassment in the workplace. Employment discrimination can appear in multiple contexts:

• During the hiring process.
• Termination of an employee.
• Whether an employee gets a promotion or is denied a promotion.
• Compensation provided to the employee.
• Retention of an employee.
• Preferential or discriminatory scheduling.
• Discriminatory assignment of job tasks to a particular employee.
• Other discriminatory treatment.

Discrimination is sometimes readily apparent, while other times, employment discrimination can be subtle or could take a long time to surface. If you believe you have been the victim of employment discrimination, consult with an experienced employment discrimination law attorney as soon as possible.

Laws That Protect Workers From Discrimination

Many federal and state laws protect workers from employment discrimination. Federal protections are derived from the following:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 provides employees protection from discrimination in the workplace based on the employee’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 protects employees over forty from workplace discrimination.
• Title I and Title V of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 protects against discrimination against workers with disabilities.
• The Equal Pay Act of 1963 protects against sex-based pay discrimination when male and female workers perform work that is substantially equal in the same establishment.

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) lays out more protections for workers against employment discrimination. This state law applies to all companies that have more than five employees.

Remedies for Employment Discrimination

Workers who have been victims of employment discrimination may be entitled to recovery under state and federal employment anti-discrimination laws. Damages that can be sought in an employment discrimination suit can include back pay and front pay, compensation for career damage, emotional distress damages, reinstatement to a previous job, becoming hired, or obtaining a reasonable accommodation for religious beliefs or disability. Victims might also be eligible for attorney’s fees and court costs. In serious enough cases, an employee may be awarded punitive damages.

Call Now For a Free Initial Consultation

The Law Offices of Alan F. Cohen has worked with many employees who have been the victims of employment discrimination, so let us fight for your rights. Contact our San Francisco, California, employment discrimination attorneys today for a free consultation regarding your situation.