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Workplace discrimination in Los Angeles does not always look like overt hostility or explicit bias. In many cases, it appears through unequal treatment, subtle decision-making, or workplace policies that disproportionately affect certain groups. Here are the most common forms to help you recognize when your rights may be violated.
Race discrimination remains one of the most frequently reported forms of workplace discrimination in California. It may affect hiring decisions, promotions, pay, job assignments, or disciplinary actions. Employees may notice they are passed over for opportunities, evaluated more harshly, or held to different standards than coworkers of a different race or ethnicity. Discrimination may also be based on perceived race or association with individuals of a particular race or national origin. Even when employers claim neutral reasons for their actions, patterns of unequal treatment can point to unlawful discrimination.
Sex and gender discrimination can involve unequal pay, denied promotions, or unfavorable job assignments. It may also include discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.
Women and gender-diverse employees may experience subtle barriers, such as being excluded from leadership roles, subjected to stereotypes, or penalized for behaviors that are accepted in male coworkers. Pregnancy discrimination also remains a common issue when employers fail to provide accommodations or treat pregnancy-related needs as inconveniences.
Age discrimination typically affects workers age 40 and older. It can arise during layoffs, restructuring, or hiring decisions when employers favor younger employees. Common signs include comments about being “overqualified,” being excluded from training, or replaced by significantly younger workers. Age discrimination often overlaps with other issues, such as forced retirement, reduced responsibilities, or sudden performance criticism that did not previously exist.
Disability discrimination occurs when employers fail to provide reasonable accommodations or treat employees unfairly due to physical or mental conditions. This includes medical conditions, injuries, or perceived disabilities. Employees may experience discrimination through denial of accommodations, exclusion from job duties, or termination after requesting leave or adjustments. California law protects both actual and perceived disabilities and requires employers to engage in an interactive process to identify reasonable accommodations.
Religious discrimination may involve denial of reasonable accommodations for religious practices, such as scheduling changes, dress requirements, or grooming standards. It can also include harassment or pressure to participate in religious activities. Employers must make reasonable efforts to accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs unless doing so would cause undue hardship.
Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity may include harassment, exclusion, unequal treatment, or retaliation for coming out or transitioning. Employees may face hostile behavior from coworkers or supervisors or be denied opportunities because of bias. California law explicitly protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
Harassment is a form of discrimination when it is based on a protected characteristic and is severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment. This may include offensive comments, jokes, slurs, or unwanted conduct. Harassment does not need to involve physical conduct. Repeated verbal or visual behavior can be enough to violate the law.
Retaliation often follows discrimination complaints. Employees who report unfair treatment may face demotions, schedule changes, reduced hours, or termination. Retaliation is unlawful even if the underlying discrimination claim is disputed. Contact our retaliation lawyers in Los Angeles to file a claim today.