Under California law it is unlawful for an employer to harass an employee or applicant on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status. An employer must also take all reasonable steps necessary to prevent harassment from occurring. An employer may, therefore, be liable for failing to do so.
Learn more about how our Los Angeles workplace harassment attorneys can help you by contacting us online or calling (213) 553-4550 today!
Workplace Harassment consists of behavior that takes place outside the scope of what is necessary for job performance. It is the kind of conduct by the harasser done for personal gratification, out of meanness or bigotry, or for other personal motives. Harassment focuses on situations in which the social environment of the workplace becomes intolerable due to verbal, physical, or visual conduct of a harasser that communicates an offensive message to the harassed employee. Harassment can be in the form of discriminatory intimidation, ridicule, or insult that alter the conditions of employment and create an abusive working environment.
Both state and federal laws protect employees against workplace harassment. Federal law remedies for workplace sexual harassment are based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. State law remedies are based upon the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”). Victims of workplace harassment can recover various types of damages. These include lost wages, future lost wages, emotional distress, attorney’s fees and in some cases, punitive damages.
Retaliation for opposing harassment, filing a complaint, testifying, or assisting in any proceeding against an employer for harassment is unlawful. An employer who engages in retaliation may be subject to higher penalties or damage awards.
Workplace harassment is a serious offense. If you believe you are a victim of workplace harassment, it is important to contact a knowledgeable employment attorney. The attorneys at Fair Employment Lawyers at Kaplan Weiss LLP are committed advocates of employee rights. Contact us today to discuss the details of your case.
Discrimination and harassment are two separate, but often related and overlapping violations. It helps to think about discrimination as some kind of action taken by an employer or supervisor that is within the ordinary course of the workday, such as disciplining someone for coming in late or demoting or firing them. Where it becomes discriminatory when it is not done because the employee was late or didn’t do their job well, but because they are a member of a protected class. Protected classes include race, religion, gender, age, marital status, and disability. For example, an employer decides they want to cut an employee’s hours because they think they’re too old to do the job. That would be discriminatory.
There is lawful and unlawful harassment. Illegal harassment is the kind of harassment that is motivated by some sort of bigotry and is engaged in for the personal gratification of the harasser. An example would be making jokes about people of a certain race or religion or calling members of the other gender offensive names. It can include jokes, comments, touching, posting signs, or sending out emails to other employees. On the other hand, a nasty, mean boss or unpleasant workplace is not necessarily unlawful harassment.
Our workplace harassment lawyers in Los Angeles are here to help you. Contact us online or by calling (213) 553-4550 today!