Santa Ana Workplace Discrimination Lawyer

Whether you love your job or just tolerate it for the paycheck, you should always feel safe when you go to work. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for Orange County employees. Workplace discrimination can make the workplace feel hostile and even intolerable, driving qualified employees to choose between their own happiness and self-worth and employment.
Employment law is extremely strict about workplace discrimination in that it is not tolerated in the state of California. Still, many workers experience some sort of discrimination, harassment, or wrongful treatment. If you are one such worker, it is important to know that you do not have to live in a hostile work environment. There are concrete and effective steps you can take to make your workplace feel safe and welcoming once again.
If you have been the victim of employment discrimination or workplace discrimination in Santa Ana, CA, our employment attorneys can help. With the help of our qualified lawyers, you can seek justice for what has been done to you and ensure that you can continue to do your job without illegal, discriminatory behaviors standing in your way.

The Law Offices of Corbett H. Williams: Your Santa Ana Employment Discrimination Attorneys

For many years, our qualified team has been fighting on behalf of California workers. Our experience is broad and thorough and includes cases in discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour disputes, wrongful termination, class action cases, retaliation, and more. We have a significant community of clients and a portfolio of successful cases that act as a testament to our passion, skill, and tenacity in this area. We will not rest until justice has been served in your case.
We understand that discrimination is a vulnerable topic. If you are being discriminated against in the workplace, you likely feel a mix of complicated emotions. Because of this, we always approach our clients with patience, kindness, and compassion. You can trust us to fight for you while simultaneously honoring your feelings surrounding the situation. While other firms may plow ahead, we take the time to create a relationship of trust and respect with our clients.
When you are looking for a Santa Ana employment lawyer, you will find none better than our team at the Law Offices of Corbett H. Williams.

What Is Employment Discrimination?

It can be difficult to understand what discrimination is, especially if you have never experienced it. Discrimination comes in many forms and scenarios, which can make it difficult to identify even when you are going through it.

At its core, employment discrimination is any unfair treatment in the workplace that is based on a protected class. Protected classes include:

• Race and ethnicity
• Gender and gender expression
• Religion
• Age
• Disability status
• National origin
• Sexual orientation
• Marital status
• Pregnancy status

In other words, it is illegal for anyone in the workplace to treat you differently or negatively because of one of the above traits. For example, you cannot be passed up for a promotion because you are unmarried.

There are many discriminatory actions that can occur in the workplace. It is important to be aware of these events so that you can take action quickly if one of them happens to you. Common acts of discrimination include:

• • Not giving a promotion that an individual deserves and is qualified for
  • Excluding an individual from necessary meetings, memos, and emails
  • Making jokes based on a protected class
  • Firing an individual because of a protected class
  • Failing to make reasonable accommodations
  • Failing to hire someone who is qualified for a job because of a protected class
  • Paying a worker less because of a protected class

These are just a few examples of how discrimination can appear in the workplace. It is important to be aware of these events and to take action if you believe that you are experiencing discrimination. Be especially diligent around promotions, hiring and firing, and other situations that may change your title, responsibilities, or salary.

Why Do I Need a Santa Ana Discrimination Lawyer?

Though it is legal to go through your case without an employment lawyer, it is unwise to do so. Discrimination can be difficult to prove, and your case requires an experienced hand. Without training in discrimination law, it is extremely challenging to create an airtight argument and present it in the high-pressure situation of a courtroom. It is better to hire an attorney who can handle this stressful environment and who understands the necessary elements of a good argument.

Discrimination is a serious offense that has a strong impact on the workplace. If you are being discriminated against, it is likely that your employer is discriminating or has discriminated against others as well. They will continue to do this if they continue to get away with it. By investing in an attorney, you not only give yourself the best chance of winning your case, but you also help to protect others from the same treatment that you are getting.

If you win your discrimination case, you can receive significant compensation. The average employment discrimination settlement is $40,000, which can offer you key financial support while you move forward in your career. This amount of money needs to be taken seriously and protected by the expert hand of an attorney’s advice.

Proving Workplace Discrimination in Santa Ana, California

In order to win your workplace discrimination claim, you need to prove the discrimination to the court. This requires evidence that links the behavior to a protected class. For instance, you would need to prove that you were denied a promotion because of your gender rather than because of a lack of experience or capability.

The following types of evidence are extremely helpful in these cases:

• • • • Emails, letters, or memos
      • Performance reviews
      • HR reports
      • Testimonials from other employees

This is not an exhaustive list of the types of evidence that may be helpful to you. Your attorney will help you to determine what kinds of evidence will be helpful in your case and help to obtain it as well.

Retaliation

Unfortunately, many people avoid taking action against discrimination because they believe that they will get fired or punished if their employer finds out. It is extremely important to understand that retaliatory behavior is illegal. If you begin a case against your employer, they cannot take action to punish you. This is true even if you do not end up winning your case. As long as you created your claim because of a genuine concern about discrimination and not to slander your employer, you cannot be fired, demoted, or punished for doing so.

FAQs

Q: What Types of Situations Can an Employment Lawyer Help With?

A: You can seek advice from an employment lawyer for a myriad of situations, including:

• • • • ADA and reasonable accommodation requirements
      • Promotion denials
      • Application rejections
      • Harassment or unwanted behavior in the workplace
      • Terminations
      • Salary negotiations

If you are concerned that your employer has treated you differently because of a protected class, find an attorney right away. We can help you to determine whether you have a case and how to proceed if you do.

Q: Should I Tell HR I’m Getting a Lawyer?

A: This is a case-by-case situation. In some situations, alerting human resources that you are getting a lawyer may help to get things moving and resolve the situation quickly. In other situations, it could make things worse. The best course of action is to hire an attorney and ask their opinion about what to do in your scenario. Because this depends on the circumstances, there is no one-size-fits-all advice.

Q: What Is Considered Wrongful Termination in California?

A: Wrongful termination is any situation in which an employee gets fired for an illegal reason. This can be because of a protected class or after a protected event, such as pregnancy or giving birth. However, these situations are confusing. An employer does not necessarily need a reason to fire someone, but if the court draws a connection between the termination and a protected class, the individual has the right to a settlement.

Q: What Is Reasonable Accommodation?

A: Employers are required to make reasonable accommodations to help employees to do their jobs. This can mean providing a chair if an employee cannot stand for long periods or offering extra breaks for breastfeeding or pumping. Anything that is minor and relatively non-disruptive is considered a reasonable accommodation. An employer is not required to change a job description or make significant sacrifices to fit an employee’s needs.

Contact the Law Offices of Corbett H. Williams

If you are experiencing workplace discrimination in Santa Ana, California, you can trust our team at the Law Offices of Corbett H. Williams to help you. We have many years of experience in this field and have helped hundreds of employees to achieve justice following discrimination. If you believe that you are being treated unfairly, you should act quickly to resolve the issue.

To learn more about our firm and discriminatory practices, or to schedule a consultation, contact the Law Offices of Corbett H. Williams online today.