Employment Discrimination Attorney Serving in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Westlake Village
Attorneys Fighting Employment Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in Southern California
Employment discrimination and sexual harassment can take many forms, and these cases are often difficult to investigate and prove when the illegal activity is conducted privately. But it is not just the harasser who can be held liable for this illegal conduct. How an employer responds to complaints can determine whether the company itself should also be held liable for allowing the discrimination or failing to stop it. There is no place for unlawful discriminatory treatment in the workplace, and at Rounds & Sutter, our employment discrimination attorneys help employees throughout Southern California who have been the victims of discrimination or harassment in the workplace to stand up to their aggressors and put a stop to the abuse.
Employment Discrimination
A host of local, state and federal laws protect employees from unlawful discrimination in all facets of employment, including hiring, promotions, transfers and assignments, raises, and firing (wrongful termination). One major federal law is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, color or sex. Other laws protect people from discrimination based on disability (Americans with Disabilities Act), age (Age Discrimination in Employment Act), and pregnancy (Pregnancy Discrimination Act), just to name a few.
California workers who feel they have been subjected to discrimination may file a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). These agencies may investigate the complaint and then either bring an enforcement action against the employer or issue a right to sue letter to the employee. With a right to sue letter in hand, the employee can go to state or federal court and sue the employer for damages.
Sexual Harassment
The first types of sexual harassment cases recognized by the courts were quid pro quo situations where a supervisor demanded a romantic relationship or sexual favors from a subordinate, and conditioned positive or negative job treatment depending upon how the employee responded. Today, sexual harassment encompasses a wide range of behaviors which create a hostile work environment for the employee. These behaviors can include inappropriate touching or offensive remarks, jokes and teasing, gestures, graffiti and more. Virtually any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that is so severe and pervasive that it creates a hostile environment can render an employer liable for sexual harassment.
Get Help Today to Stop Workplace Discrimination and Harassment
If you feel that you have been the victim of discrimination or harassment at work, give us a call at our offices in Westlake Village, Ventura, Santa Barbara or San Clemente. We will listen to your story and advise you on how best to proceed to stop the harassment or discrimination and find an appropriate remedy for the harm done to you. For help throughout Southern California on employment law matters, contact the caring and experienced employment discrimination attorneys at Rounds & Sutter.