619-342-8000San Diego
RACE Discrimination
Lawyers
Employee discrimination is a serious issue in the State of California. State and federal laws govern employers and employees. If you suffered discrimination while working or seeking work in the State of California, you have options for holding an employer accountable for their actions. You should understand important details regarding employment law in California.
The San Diego employment discrimination attorneys of Haeggquist & Eck, LLP offers legal representation for employees who suffer employment discrimination in San Diego and surrounding counties. Call our office today for a free case evaluation during which we can discuss the facts of your case. Retaining an attorney is an important step to take when you want to hold your employer liable for discrimination.
No one wants to feel discriminated against at work.
Table of Contents
Race Among
San Diego Employees
Federal and California state employment laws prohibit workplace discrimination or harassment due to someone’s race. Despite these clear laws, companies in San Diego continue to discriminate against employees who are black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). This discrimination can happen at any stage of employment, from hiring to termination, and race discrimination can take many forms.
If you believe your employer violated your rights due to discrimination because of your skin color or race, you can hold the employer accountable.
San Diego has people of many different races living and trying to earn a living in the area.
Recent surveys show the following race demographics in the area:
- White – 62 percent
- Hispanic or Latino – 30.1 percent
- Asian – 17.3 percent
- Black or African American – 6.1 percent
- Two or more races – 7.8 percent
With people of different races in the workforce in San Diego, our law firm works to make sure that employees have equal opportunities and treatment despite their racial differences.
Never wait to consult a San Diego race discrimination attorney at Haeggquist & Eck, LLP. We can help you. Call us today.
What Is
Race discrimination?
Race discrimination at work involves treating a job applicant or current employee unfairly or unfavorably because of their race or aspects of race, including hair type or skin color. Different forms of race discrimination can lead to employment law claims.
Disparate Treatment
Due to Race
Disparate treatment involves treating an individual employee differently because of their race.
This requires:
- The employee is a member of a protected class under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
- The employer took adverse action against the employee, and the action had consequences for the employee.
- The employer took the adverse action because of the employee’s race (or other protected characteristic).
Disparate treatment can happen in many discriminatory ways.
These include:
- Harassment
- Refusal to hire
- Refusal of a deserved promotion or pay increase
- Demotion or pay decrease
- Limitations on hours or shifts compared to other employees
- Termination of employment
Race harassment involves a hostile work environment due to offensive comments, gestures, jokes, assault, or other adverse treatment due to an employee’s race. If you believe you are suffering harassment, your employer must take steps to stop the conduct. If the company fails to do so and a hostile work environment results, your employer can be accountable for this form of race discrimination.
Another form of unlawful discrimination in California relating to race is unlawful hairstyle discrimination. Employers cannot discriminate against an applicant or employee for having natural hair texture or wearing certain hairstyles common for their race. These include locks, twists, afros, braids, and other hairstyles common to BIPOC employees.
If you believe that you suffered race discrimination involving disparate treatment, including harassment or hairstyle discrimination, speak with our law firm as soon as possible about your legal options.
Disparate Impact
Due to Race
Race discrimination does not need to target an individual, as it can involve an employer practice or policy that unfairly affects employees of a certain race. For example, employers cannot have certain hair or grooming policies that affect employees of one race but not others.
Disparate impact is harder to identify, but if you think an employer policy unfairly affects you because of your race, our San Diego employment lawyers can review your rights.
San Diego Race Discrimination FAQs
When Should You Report
Race Discrimination?
If you feel comfortable doing so, you should report suspected race discrimination to your employer as soon as it happens. Your employer should have channels for discrimination complaints – usually through human resources.
You must report race harassment to your employer, as the company must have the opportunity to stop the harassing conduct before liability arises. We can help you do this. Remember that human resources personnel work for and protect the company, not you. You will want our advice and input when you file a report.
If you work for a small business and you can only report to the harasser or discriminating party, contact our office so we can advise you on how to proceed.
Other things you can do to protect your rights include:
- Document every instance of discriminatory or harassing conduct.
- Retain all emails, texts, memos, or other messages that involve discrimination or harassment.
- Keep track of when and how you reported any unlawful conduct and how your employer responded.
- Seek treatment for any physical or mental injuries you suffered due to discrimination or harassment.
It can be difficult and intimidating to report race discrimination at work, and many employees fear they will lose their jobs following a complaint. The law protects employees from retaliation by employers for reporting unlawful conduct or participating in an investigation regarding unlawful conduct.
If your employer disciplines, demotes, harasses, terminates your employment, or takes any other adverse action against you, you can have a claim for retaliation in addition to the initial discrimination.
Why Choose Our
Employment Law Team?
Our legal team has been standing up for the rights of employees in the San Diego area for nearly 15 years. Whether someone suffered sexual harassment at work, has a class action wage claim, or has any other employment law concern, we are ready to help.
Our employment lawyers passionately believe in everyone’s right to work without discrimination or other violations of their rights by employers. We obtain successful results for employees with valid employment law claims, including those involving race discrimination.
Do not allow companies to get away with unlawful discrimination – consult with our San Diego race discrimination lawyer immediately.
Consult a San Diego Race Discrimination Lawyer
Right away
Taking a stand against racial discrimination can protect your employment rights and prevent future racial discrimination against others. The employment attorneys of Haeggquist & Eck, LLP are ready to help you hold an employer or prospective employer accountable for unlawful discrimination based on your race.
Contact Haeggquist & Eck, LLP at (619) 342-8000 for your free case evaluation today, and we can begin protecting your employment rights.
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