Livermore Employment Discrimination Lawyer
Trusted Employment Discrimination Attorney in Livermore, CA
Every Livermore employee deserves fair, equal treatment. When an employer fails to uphold this employee right, employees are often left with financial losses, emotional pain, and career damage. If you are experiencing these damages due to your employer’s misconduct, a Livermore employment discrimination lawyer can pursue compensation while also keeping your employer accountable for discriminatory actions.
Valerian Law, P.C.: Experienced Employment Discrimination Lawyers
With over 56 years of experience, the Livermore employment discrimination attorneys at Valerian Law, P.C., have stood up for countless employees. We empower employees to take action against discriminatory employers. We also represent them through the claims process with a focus on California’s employment discrimination laws.
Understanding What Qualifies as Employment Discrimination in California
In California, over 19 million Californians are in the workforce. While many people never experience discrimination, when it happens, it can be devastating. The California Civil Rights Department received 16,924 employment complaints requesting to file a claim against the employer.
In Livermore, some of the top employers are Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley, and Lam RESEARCH. Employment discrimination can happen anywhere, whether you work for one of these employers or a smaller company.
Employment discrimination laws, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Employment and Housing Act, prohibit discrimination and provide protections for employees who wish to file a claim against their employer. For negative treatment to qualify as employment discrimination, it must be because of the employee’s protected class. Protected characteristics include:
- Race
- Religion
- National origin
- Age
- Disability
- Sex and gender
- Genetic information
Proving that your employer’s actions were based on your protected characteristics can be challenging. If you hire an employment discrimination lawyer, they can provide sufficient evidence to prove:
- The negative treatment you have suffered
- That the negative treatment was directly because of protected characteristics rather than valid, lawful reasons
- The damages you have suffered because of the discrimination
Types of Employment Discrimination in Livermore Workplaces
No matter what type of issue you are experiencing, you should speak with a Livermore employment discrimination lawyer if you are being treated poorly due to a protected characteristic. Three reasons that warrant filing a claim against your employer include:
- Discriminatory employment practices. Discrimination often impacts employment decisions, such as hiring, firing, promotions, demotions, pay, or scheduling. Employers are prohibited from making these decisions based on an applicant’s or employee’s protected characteristic.
- Harassment and hostile work environment claims. Harassment involves unwanted and pervasive treatment, based on a protected characteristic, that results in a toxic work environment. This harassment can negatively impact a victim’s work performance, well-being, and safety.
- Retaliation. Employees have the right to file discrimination complaints or claims against their employer. Retaliation occurs when an employer punishes an employee for exercising these rights. Often, retaliation involves actions such as firing, poor performance reviews, demotion, poor scheduling, or harassment. In 2024, the EEOC received 2,592 charges of retaliation.
What to Do After Experiencing Discrimination
Experiencing discrimination can leave you feeling a variety of emotions, from frustration to hurt. In the aftermath of a discriminatory event, it can be difficult to know what you should do next. Some steps to take include:
- Document the event. Write down what happened, who was involved, and where and when it occurred.
- Gather evidence. Save copies of communication records or note who witnessed the event.
- File an internal report. File a report with a supervisor or your company’s human resources department. Provide the details and evidence you have gathered
When to Hire an Employment Discrimination Lawyer
If internal reports don’t remedy the situation, or the discrimination continues, it is time to work with a Livermore employment discrimination lawyer. A lawyer can gather even more evidence of discrimination; then, they can pursue legal action against your employer. Often, a lawyer can reach a settlement without going to court, though a trial may be possible if the employer will not negotiate a fair agreement.
FAQs
FAQS DISCLAIMER
The questions and answers presented in the FAQ are not intended to be exhaustive and do not constitute legal advice for your particular question, issue, or concern, nor does this FAQ create any attorney-client relationship or duty on our part to assist you. The information may help you think about your issues and ask the right questions if you choose to consult with an attorney.
What Is the 80% Rule in a Discrimination Case?
The 80% rule is a guideline that can be used to identify if an employer’s decisions are disparately impacting a protected group. The effects of a certain employment action on a protected group should be at least 80% of the rate for the most common group. For example, if an employee hires white employees at the highest rate, the rate at which the company hires employees of other races should be at least 80% of the white hiring rate.
Can You File a Claim for Poor Treatment or Harassment If It Wasn’t Based on a Protected Characteristic?
No. An employment discrimination claim only covers discrimination and harassment when it is based on a protected characteristic, such as race, ethnicity, sex, disability status, or age. While general poor treatment can be uncomfortable and challenging to deal with, it is not protected under laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Fair Employment and Housing Act.
When Are Punitive Damages Awarded in an Employment Discrimination Case?
Punitive damages are awarded to punish employers for willful or extreme misconduct. For example, an employer was aware of severe hiring disparities based on race, or they intentionally chose not to hire employees of a certain race. Another example would be if the employer was made aware of workplace harassment, but they chose to ignore or suppress these claims rather than address them. A lawyer can explain whether punitive damages are available in your case.
How Much Is a Discrimination Claim Worth in California?
How much an employment discrimination case is worth depends on what damages you are suffering from and the circumstances of the discrimination. Cases involving willful misconduct often result in higher compensation because punitive damages are included in the award. Additionally, cases with large amounts of lost wages and benefits may be more highly compensated to make up for these losses.
Reach Out to a Livermore Employment Discrimination Attorney
At Valerian Law, P.C., we can find justice after experiencing discrimination in Livermore. Contact us to set up a case consultation with an experienced lawyer.
