Race Discrimination

Los Angeles Race Discrimination Lawyers

Seeking Justice for Our Clients in Southern California Since 2012

The Barkhordarian Law Firm has been committed to everyday employees in the Greater Los Angeles area and throughout California by providing in-depth legal representation for those who have had their rights violated.

One of the most common ways we’ve seen workers mistreated is being discriminated against by their employers, especially when it involves race. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), there were more than 1.8 million discrimination complaints filed from 1997 to 2018, and in 2017 alone, 34% of complaints were categorized as race discrimination.

If you believe you were mistreated at work because of your race or ethnicity, don’t hesitate to call our Los Angeles race discrimination lawyers to get the protection you need. We can seek compensation for your damages and obtain justice for you when we take legal action.

What Is Race Discrimination?

Race discrimination occurs when a job applicant or employee is given unfair treatment because of their skin color, race, and other features that are associated with their race, such as hair texture. Discriminatory acts can include:

• Refusal to hire
• Less pay, benefits, or promotions
• Demotions
• Wrongful terminations
• Coercion to quit

Racial discrimination can also include harassment when the employee experiences racial slurs, derogatory comments, racially offensive symbols, or offensive jokes in the workplace.

Racial discrimination is not only wrong and unethical—it’s illegal in the United States and in California. However, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are still disproportionately overlooked by employers when it comes to hiring, promotions and raises, and other advancement opportunities.

If you believe you’re being discriminated against because of race, it’s important to take certain steps to protect yourself and have more evidence you can use when you eventually file a claim.

Some of these steps include:

• Documenting all conduct you’ve found to be discriminatory or harassing at work
• Holding onto work-related emails and texts that contain evidence of discrimination
• Document any complaints you’ve made to your employer or HR representative
• Seek medical or mental health treatment if the discrimination has taken a toll on your health and make sure to hold onto your medical records and receipts

Laws That Prohibit Discrimination

Employees are protected from racial discrimination in the workplace by federal laws. According to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it’s unlawful to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race or color. It’s also unlawful for decisions to be made based on assumptions and stereotypes about people’s abilities, traits, and performances.

California also has its own laws that bar discrimination. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes it unlawful for employers with five or more employees to discriminate against individuals based on race, whether it be an employee, contractor, applicant, or unpaid volunteer.

How Can an Employment Discrimination Lawyer in Los Angeles Help With Your Racial Discrimination Claim?

Discrimination of any kind is wrong, and it’s especially wrong when someone faces discrimination in the workplace. Fortunately, there are laws in place to protect individuals from discrimination based on race or color, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

An experienced racial discrimination attorney can help those who have been discriminated against seek justice for their mistreatment while helping them receive compensation for damages they may have incurred.

From providing legal counsel to filing a claim with an administrative agency or taking legal action in court, our Los Angeles race discrimination lawyers provide comprehensive representation that puts your best interests first throughout every step of your case.

Services a racial discrimination attorney may provide include, but are not limited to:

• Provide legal counsel on discrimination issues in the workplace
• Assist with filing a discrimination claim with administrative agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH)
• Represent discrimination victims in court, if necessary
• Negotiate settlements between employers and workplace discrimination victims outside of court
• Develop strategies for strengthening discrimination cases
• Gather evidence to prove discrimination occurred
• Help file claims for back pay or lost wages due to discrimination
• Obtain justice through civil litigation when necessary
• Seek compensation for damages caused by racial discrimination, including emotional distress and humiliation
• Educate individuals about their rights as employees under federal and state laws

Why Should I Hire an Employment Lawyer?

California law mandates that it’s your right as an employee to work safely without being discriminated against for your race, color, or national origin. If you feel that your rights have been violated and you’ve already filed a complaint, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against your employer to both seek justice and potentially get compensated for your losses.

Along with gathering evidence and filing your claim in a timely manner, our lawyers can also help you understand if you’re a victim of racial discrimination, as some cases aren’t immediately obvious. It can sometimes be difficult to determine if something that happened to you is tied to your race.

Some signs of possible racial discrimination in the workplace to be aware of include:

• Your hours or pay was reduced
• There was a failure to stop racism or ethnic jokes from being made in the workplace
• You’re being excluded from meetings and events
• Employees from a certain race are being promoted over others
• Retaliation against employees who associate with other races or speak out about racism
• Failing to hire job applicants with ethnic-sounding names

It’s also worth noting that employers can discriminate against applicants or employees of the same race, and discrimination can still be valid when both the victim and employer are of the same race or color. We’ve recovered damages for clients in the past that include back wages, benefits, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more, and we’re able to sit down with you to calculate just how much you’ve lost.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Get Answers From Our Los Angeles Race Discrimination Lawyers