If you find yourself searching for a discrimination lawyer in Los Angeles, chances are, there is an excellent reason you’re doing so. However, as good of a reason you have, proving discrimination in the workplace can often be challenging. Why? Well, finding the evidence to back your claim can sometimes become complicated. That’s where Hershey Law steps in and helps.
California is an at-will state.
If you’re not familiar with the term ‘at-will,’ it basically states that an employer can terminate an employee at any time. Likewise, an employee is free to leave their job at any point. However, for most people, the first instance is the frightening one. Knowing that your employer could fire you at any time, for almost any reason (or no reason at all) is quite unsettling.
However, there are limits.
Even though California is an at-will state, several state and federal laws are in place to protect the employee from specific situations. You can probably guess where we are going with this. Yes, discrimination is unlawful regardless of being an at-will state. While employers can terminate employment for no reason, if they are motivated by an unlawful reason, they’re breaking the law.
California Fair Employment and Housing Act
Often referred to as ‘FEHA,’ the Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits employers from terminating an at-all employee for a protected reason. Below is a list of many, not all, areas protected:
- Race, Ethnicity, Color
- Religion
- Physical, Mental, or Medical Disabilities
- Sex, Gender, Gender Identity, or Gender Expression
- Age
- Marital Status
Proving Intent
As we mentioned, these cases can often be complex because the terminated employee needs to prove that there was the intent of discrimination. There are generally three ways of accomplishing this:
- Circumstantial evidence: As one of the most common methods of proving discrimination, this process relies on what is known as the McDonnell Douglas Framework.
- Direct evidence: Emails, written documents, and other documented accounts of discrimination fall into this category. While the material is readily available in some cases, more often than not, finding this information proves difficult.
- Pattern and Practice: In this case, the employee attempts to show that the employer has steadily engaged in discriminatory activities.
When it comes to finding a discrimination lawyer in Los Angeles, look no further than Hershey Law. Our team of experienced attorneys will help you determine if you have a case and stand by you every step of the way to prove you were discriminated against.
To schedule your free consultation, contact the team at Hershey Law by calling (310) 929-2190.
Remember to follow our team on Facebook for the most up to date information and firm happenings!