Orange County Workplace Retaliation Lawyer
California is, generally, a worker-friendly state. California’s workplace discrimination and employee rights laws are some of the strongest in the country and protect a wider class of workers than do federal laws. California’s retaliation laws protect workers who exercise protected rights from being terminated, demoted, denied employment, or otherwise punished. The laws are aimed to fill the gap for workers who speak out and are not wrongfully terminated but are treated adversely in the workplace as a result. Wrongful termination and retaliation have some overlap, but each protects conduct not covered by the other. The workplace retaliation laws protect California workers who, for example, oppose unlawful conduct, report violations to California’s fair housing agency, file a complaint against their employer, or testify against the company in a legal proceeding, and are punished as a result.
If you have been unlawfully punished for exercising your rights as an employee, the California workplace retaliation lawyers at Coast Employment Law are there to help. Our employee rights lawyers will see that any adverse employment action is reversed and that you are compensated for any damages you have suffered.
Prohibited Conduct
California’s employee rights, wrongful termination, and anti-discrimination laws protect California workers from discriminatory or harassing treatment in the workplace. California law prohibits discrimination against members of a protected class such as race, gender, religion, or sexuality, as well as actions against whistleblowers or anyone who files a complaint with the Labor Commissioner. If a worker witnesses, knows or suspects that an employer is discriminating or harassing an employee based on these characteristics or behaviors, then that worker has the right to take corrective action.
California’s Workplace Retaliation Laws
California employment law prohibits any covered employer from retaliating against employees who take appropriate affirmative action to respond to perceived unlawful conduct. Protected activities include the following:
- Reporting violations of the law, internally or to authorities
- Opposing, complaining about or participating in an investigation of employment discrimination or workplace harassment
- Requesting reasonable accommodation for a disability or religious views
- Filing or assisting in filing a complaint with the Labor Commissioner
- Seeking advice from the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) or assisting another employee who seeks advice from the DFEH
- Participating in activity the employer sees as opposition to discrimination
Proving Retaliation
Retaliation can be difficult to prove, especially if the retaliation doesn’t rise to the level of wrongful termination. Employers may point to neutral grounds for an adverse action such as denying a promotion or bonus, or they may claim that they had no knowledge of the employee’s protected activities. For that reason, it is always best to document any whistleblowing or other protected activities. If you are complaining about workplace harassment or requesting an accommodation for a disability, do so via email, letter, or text in order to protect yourself should the employer react unlawfully.
Contact An Experienced Orange County Workplace Retaliation Lawyer Today
The seasoned Orange County workplace retaliation lawyers at Coast Employment Law will go the distance for you. We are well-known throughout southern California for both our tenacity and experience, and we will work diligently to achieve the best possible outcome in your case. If you or anyone you know in Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties, or anywhere in California, needs legal help, call Coast Employment Law today at 714-551-9930, or fill out the contact form on this website to set up a free consultation.
