Workplace Discrimination Attorney in Bakersfield

The Many Forms of Workplace Discrimination

In Bakersfield, no employee should face discrimination in their workplace. The city is committed to ensuring that every employee is protected from unfair treatment based on various classes, including race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability. Discrimination is not only unethical but also a violation of labor laws.

What Protections Are in Place?

Employers in Bakersfield are required by law to provide fair treatment to all employees, regardless of their belonging to any of the aforementioned classes. This means that an employer cannot use these characteristics as a basis for denying benefits or unfairly treating an employee. Ensuring that employees receive equitable benefits and are treated with fairness is a fundamental requirement.

If you’re facing discrimination at work in Bakersfield, it’s crucial to have the right legal support by your side. Our top-rated employment attorneys understand the stress and complexity of such situations. Discrimination can take many forms, and it requires an experienced lawyer to thoroughly investigate your case and build a compelling claim to prove that discrimination has occurred.

Understanding Discrimination in the Workplace

Discrimination in the workplace can manifest in various ways, including unfair treatment based on race, gender, age, disability, or religion. Each case is unique, and a skilled attorney will evaluate your specific circumstances to ensure that your rights are protected. Our legal team is well-versed in the intricacies of employment law and committed to fighting for justice on your behalf.

What Laws Protect Employees in Bakersfield?

Bakersfield employees are protected under several key laws designed to prevent discrimination. These laws include:

• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: This federal law prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): This act safeguards individuals with disabilities from discrimination in all areas of public life, including employment.
• California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA): This state law offers additional protections against discrimination and harassment in the workplace, providing a broader scope of coverage than federal laws.

How Can a Lawyer Help With My Discrimination Claim?

A highly-rated employment attorney will thoroughly assess your situation, gather necessary evidence, and build a strong case to support your claim. They will navigate the legal system on your behalf, ensuring that all procedural requirements are met and that your rights are upheld.

Why Choose Our Attorneys?

Our top-rated employment attorneys in Bakersfield have a proven track record of successfully handling discrimination cases. They offer personalized legal strategies tailored to your specific needs, aiming to achieve the best possible outcome for your situation.

Disability Discrimination

Disability discrimination happens when individuals with disabilities are treated unfairly due to their condition. This form of discrimination can occur in various settings, including the workplace, housing, and educational institutions.

What is Disability Discrimination?

Disability discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of their disability. This type of discrimination is prohibited under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which ensures equal opportunities for people with disabilities in employment, housing, and education.

Impact on Employment

In the workplace, disability discrimination can manifest in many ways. It may involve unfair hiring practices, lack of reasonable accommodations, or unequal treatment compared to employees without disabilities. For more insights on how disability discrimination affects employment, you can explore detailed articles from sources like KTLA, which often cover related issues.

Effects on Housing and Education

Disability discrimination is not limited to employment. It also affects housing and education. For instance, individuals with disabilities might face barriers in accessing suitable housing or may be denied equal opportunities in educational programs.

What Can Be Done to Prevent Disability Discrimination?

Preventing disability discrimination involves awareness and adherence to legal protections. Employers, housing providers, and educational institutions must implement policies that accommodate individuals with disabilities and promote inclusivity.

According to data from the United States Census, approximately 39,000 individuals in Bakersfield were living with a disability in a recent year. This significant number highlights the need for continued support and advocacy for people with disabilities in the area.

The Americans with Disabilities Act: A Crucial Protections

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a landmark piece of legislation designed to safeguard the rights of people with disabilities. This law ensures that individuals with disabilities have equal access to employment, public services, and accommodations. The ADA is instrumental in promoting inclusivity and combating discrimination against people with disabilities.

Why Is This Important?

Understanding the prevalence of disability within a community is crucial for developing effective policies and support systems. In Bakersfield, with a substantial portion of the population affected, there is an ongoing need for accessible infrastructure and services.

Employment discrimination against disabled employees could take place in various different ways. For example, employment discrimination could include:

• Failing to provide the employee with accommodations to continue to do their work. For example, if an employee is injured and then considered temporarily or permanently disabled, and requires accommodations, such as a standing desk, to continue to do their work properly, an employer cannot deny the employee the right to accommodations.
• If an employer fires an employee because they have now been considered temporarily or permanently disabled, workplace discrimination has occurred.
• An employer cannot demote an employee simply because they have become disabled.
• An employer cannot refuse to hire a future potential employee slowly because they are disabled.
• Those with disabilities cannot be paid less than others who are doing the same job and have the same responsibilities.
• Employers cannot retaliate against an employee for speaking up about workplace retaliation that they have faced at work for their disabilities. 
• Employers cannot harass their employees with disabilities and create an unsafe work environment for the rest of the employees.

Age Discrimination

According to recent data from the United States Census Bureau, approximately 30% of the population in Bakersfield is under 18 years of age. This significant portion of young residents highlights the city’s vibrant and growing youth community.

In contrast, around 10% of Bakersfield’s population is over the age of 65. This demographic segment represents a considerable portion of the senior community in the city, underscoring the diverse age range of its inhabitants.

Age Discrimination in Bakersfield

Despite the diversity in age demographics, age discrimination remains a notable issue in Bakersfield. This form of discrimination can affect both younger and older individuals, impacting opportunities and quality of life.

What is Age Discrimination?

Age discrimination involves unfair treatment based on a person’s age. This can occur in various contexts, such as employment, housing, and services. It’s crucial to address these biases to ensure that all age groups have equal opportunities.

Examples of age discrimination in the workplace could include:

• Refusing to hire the employee because they are older.
• Refusing to promote the employee because they are older.
• Creating a mandatory retirement age among the employees.
• Laying off employees that are older.
• Offering an early retirement package to an employee because they are older.
• Failing to promote an employee because they are older.
• Denying the employee workplace benefits, such as medical insurance because they are older.
• Not allowing the employee wage and hour protections under California law because they are older. 

Gender Discrimination

According to recent data from the United States Census, approximately 50.4% of Bakersfield’s population consists of females. Despite this balanced demographic distribution, gender discrimination remains a significant issue for many employees in the area.

Understanding Gender Discrimination

Gender discrimination in the workplace can manifest in various forms, from unequal pay and limited career advancement opportunities to biased hiring practices. For those experiencing such issues, it’s essential to seek professional advice to understand your rights and explore your options.

What Can You Do If You Experience Gender Discrimination?

If you believe you are facing gender discrimination at work, it’s crucial to take action. Contacting a top-rated employment attorney can provide you with the guidance needed to address and rectify the situation. These legal experts specialize in handling cases of workplace discrimination and can help you navigate the complexities of employment law.

Examples of gender discrimination at work in Bakersfield include:

• Paying one gender less than the other gender for the same work duties and responsibilities.
• Refusing to hire a potential employee because they belong to a specific gender
• Failing to promote an employee that belongs to a specific gender, while promoting an employee of the opposite gender who does the same work responsibilities.
• Sexually harassing employees that belong to a specific gender at work.
• Firing an employee because they belong to a specific gender.
• Treating an employee differently because they have just given birth or are pregnant.

Racial Workplace Discrimination

Racial discrimination is also a very common type of discrimination in Bakersfield, California, and especially in the workplace. According to the United States Census, around  57.9% of the population in Bakersfield are considered white. 7% of the population in Bakersfield are black or African American alone. 0.9% are American Indian and Alaska natives. 7.2% are Asian. 12.5% identify themselves as two or more races. 52% are Hispanic or Latino. 

Examples of racial discrimination at work include:

• Refusing to hire an individual because of their race.
• Preferring to hire one race over another.
• Denying the employee opportunities to advance at work because of their race.
• Only promoting a specific racial group at work.
• Not offering bonuses to a specific racial group.
• Harassing employees of a specific racial group. 
• Retaliation against an employee for speaking up against a racial discrimination incident.
• Racially profiling employees.
• Making derogatory comments or phrases about an employee because of their race.
• Talking about the other employees’ race negatively with other coworkers.

National Origin Workplace Discrimination

National origin discrimination remains a significant issue for many employees in Bakersfield. This problem is particularly concerning given that a notable portion of the population comprises foreign-born individuals.

According to the latest data from the United States Census, approximately 19% of Bakersfield’s population consists of foreign-born persons. This demographic diversity underscores the importance of addressing national origin discrimination in the workplace.

Understanding the Impact

National origin discrimination can manifest in various ways, including unequal treatment in hiring, promotions, and daily work interactions. Such discrimination not only affects the well-being of employees but also undermines workplace harmony and productivity.

Examples of national origin discrimination at work in Bakersfield include:

• Terminating an employee because of their national origin.
• Failing to promote an employee because of their national origin.
• Paying an employee less because of their national origin.
• Treating an employee less because of their national origin.
• Culturally discriminating against an individual because of their culture or practices. 
• Not providing work opportunities because of an employee’s national origin.

As explained above, there are several different ways discrimination in the workplace could occur. But to specifically discuss the discrimination that you have faced at work, give us a call today to speak to our highly qualified legal staff. 

Contact our Bakersfield workplace discrimination attorneys today for more information on how you could hold your employer responsible.

Because discrimination does not occur directly, and an employer does not outright say they are discriminating against an employee, it takes a top-rated and experienced workplace discrimination lawyer in Bakersfield to hold your employer responsible and make sure that you have a strong claim.

We will investigate the circumstances of your discrimination case. We offer one-on-one case evaluation so you can have the opportunity to discuss your specific discrimination case, and we can take the next steps for your suit.

We also offer contingency fee agreements to our clients, to make sure that they can move forward with their lives while we pay for all the upfront costs with your case.