Santa Cruz Employment Discrimination
The lawyers of Grunsky, Ebey, Farrar & Howell (the Grunsky Law Firm) are sympathetic to the issues that can affect the life of an employee when workplace disputes arise. As passionate advocates for employee rights, we are fully prepared to aid clients in defending themselves against discrimination at work. If you encounter discrimination or you are unsure how to handle a workplace situation, contact a lawyer from our firm.
About workplace discrimination
Despite state and federal regulations banning discrimination in a work environment, discriminatory practices still occur far too often. An employee can experience discrimination during the processes of hiring, recruitment, training, promotion, pay, project assignment, or termination. While certain employers in Santa Cruz or nearby communities might knowingly favor certain staff members over others, many do not realize they are committing workplace discrimination. Regardless of employer awareness, the law protects all employees, and the employees are entitled to redress and compensation when unlawful practices occur.
The attorneys at the Santa Cruz employment discrimination law firm of Grunsky, Ebey, Farrar & Howell can help you take the appropriate actions to handle whatever type of workplace discrimination you face.
Employment discrimination laws
The laws that govern the rights of employees and employers establish protected classes—meaning it is illegal to discriminate against individuals based on certain categories. On a federal level, numerous laws identify different groups who are specifically granted protection from discrimination. Some of the most notable federal anti-discrimination laws include the following:
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963. The act outlaws discrimination against persons on the basis of sex, allowing women to demand compensation equal to what men receive for jobs with comparable responsibilities and authorities.
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964. In particular, Title VII protects individuals in all phases of employment from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, or gender.
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. This protects persons over the age of 40 from discrimination in all phases of employment.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This law outlaws discrimination on the basis of disability status and requires equal opportunity for people with disabilities in employment.
California laws are also instrumental in providing employees with protection from discrimination. Most notably, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits workplace discrimination on the basis of physical or mental disability, pregnancy/childbirth, gender, sex or sexual orientation, national origin, color or race, age, religion, or whistle-blowing, and it specifies all of these groups as protected classes.
