It is an unfortunate reality that harassment and discrimination remain common in many workplaces. The types of harassment in Mar Vista often include racial harassment, sexual harassment, age discrimination, and wrongful termination. As our experienced workplace harassment attorney could tell you, each of these is a violation of state law that can harm individuals and entire workplaces.
One form of mistreatment that Mar Vista workers experience is based on race. Both federal law (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) and state law (California Government Code § 12940(j)) make harassment based on race, ethnicity, or national origin unlawful. It can be either obvious or subtle. Racial harassment could include:
If you make a complaint about racial harassment, your employer is legally required to investigate and address the problem. Employees who document incidents of this type of mistreatment and keep written records have a better chance of holding employers accountable.
Sexual harassment is another significant form of misconduct that occurs in Mar Vista workplaces. California law defines sexual harassment as unwanted advances, inappropriate comments, and conduct that interferes with an employee’s ability to do their job. This is in addition to physical misconduct of a sexual nature.
There are two primary forms of sexual harassment. Quid pro quo harassment occurs when a supervisor or manager demands sexual favors in exchange for job benefits. A hostile work environment exists when repeated unwanted conduct creates an intimidating or offensive workplace.
Sexual harassment can occur between supervisors and employees, among coworkers, or between the employer’s clients or customers and its employees. The harassment can consist of several incidents or a single severe incident.
Another form of workplace abuse that Mar Vista employees experience is age discrimination. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (California Government Code § 12941) protects workers who are 40 years of age or older from discrimination in hiring, promotions, training, and daily working conditions.
Age discrimination can include:
Age discrimination often develops gradually. You may notice a shift in your responsibilities, a reduction in your hours, or exclusion from important projects. Documenting each instance in which your age is a factor in your supervisor’s decisions about you can be critical in proving a claim.
California is an at-will employment state, so employers can terminate workers for many reasons. However, a termination motivated by discrimination, harassment, or retaliation may be illegal. Wrongful termination is another form of hostile treatment that workers in Mar Vista may experience.
Examples of wrongful termination include firing someone for reporting racial or sexual harassment, requesting accommodations for a disability or pregnancy, raising concerns about age discrimination, and taking legally protected medical or family leave. If you believe your firing was wrongful, it is important to save evidence, such as performance reviews, emails, and records of complaints.
Contact Employee Civil Rights Group to learn more about the different types of harassment in Mar Vista. Your employer must take racial harassment, sexual harassment, age discrimination, and wrongful termination seriously. The state’s strong legal protections work well only if employees assert their rights.
If you believe that you have experienced harassment or that your termination was wrongful, our skilled lawyer could help you understand your legal options and protect your future. Call us today to schedule a free consultation.
