Workplace Discrimination
California Workplace Discrimination Attorneys for Employees
Employees have the right to be evaluated based on their work, not on protected characteristics such as age, disability, gender, pregnancy, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other legally protected traits.
Buchsbaum Haag represents employees in workplace discrimination matters throughout Southern California. Our attorneys help workers understand whether unfair treatment, termination, demotion, denied promotion, pay disparity, harassment, or other workplace harm may violate California or federal employment law.
Workplace Discrimination
California Workplace Discrimination Attorneys for Employees
Employees have the right to be evaluated based on their work, not on protected characteristics such as age, disability, gender, pregnancy, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other legally protected traits.
Buchsbaum Haag represents employees in workplace discrimination matters throughout Southern California. Our attorneys help workers understand whether unfair treatment, termination, demotion, denied promotion, pay disparity, harassment, or other workplace harm may violate California or federal employment law.
Workplace Discrimination Claims We Handle
Discrimination can be direct and obvious, but many cases are more subtle. Employers may describe unlawful treatment as a performance issue, restructuring, policy decision, attendance concern, or personality conflict.
Our attorneys represent employees in matters involving:
- Age discrimination
- Disability discrimination
- Gender discrimination
- Pregnancy discrimination
- Race discrimination
- Religious discrimination
- National origin discrimination
- Sexual orientation discrimination
- Gender identity or gender expression discrimination
- Discrimination in hiring, pay, promotion, discipline, termination, or job assignments
- Retaliation after reporting discrimination
Know Your Rights
Workplace discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee or job applicant unfairly because of a protected characteristic. Discrimination may affect hiring, pay, promotion, discipline, job assignments, accommodations, leave, termination, or other terms and conditions of employment.
California Government Code §12940(a)
Prohibits discrimination based on protected characteristics, including race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, reproductive health decision-making, and veteran or military status.
California Government Code §12940(m)
Requires reasonable accommodation for employees with qualifying disabilities.
California Government Code §12940(n)
Requires employers to engage in a timely, good-faith interactive process with employees who need reasonable accommodation.
California Government Code §12940(h)
Prohibits retaliation against employees who oppose discrimination or participate in discrimination-related proceedings.
Depending on the facts, discrimination claims may involve age discrimination, disability discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, race discrimination, religious discrimination, national origin discrimination, gender discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination, failure to accommodate, failure to engage in the interactive process, or retaliation.
How Workplace Discrimination Happens
Workplace discrimination may involve a single decision or a pattern of unequal treatment over time.
Common examples include:
- Being fired after disclosing a disability, pregnancy, medical condition, or protected status
- Being passed over for promotion despite stronger qualifications
- Receiving lower pay than similarly situated employees
- Being disciplined more harshly than coworkers
- Being denied reasonable accommodation
- Being excluded from meetings, assignments, training, or advancement opportunities
- Being targeted during a reduction in force or restructuring
- Being harassed or treated differently after reporting discrimination
Important evidence may include emails, texts, personnel records, pay records, job descriptions, performance reviews, witness statements, accommodation requests, HR complaints, and comparisons to similarly situated employees.
Our Workplace Discrimination Claims Process
1. Review
We review the facts, timeline, workplace treatment, protected category, employer explanation, and available documents.
2. Legal Assessment
We evaluate whether the facts may support claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, failure to accommodate, or related employment violations.
3. Evidence and Strategy
We assess whether the employer’s explanation is consistent, whether similarly situated employees were treated differently, and whether documents or witnesses support the claim.
4. Resolution or Litigation
Some discrimination matters resolve through negotiation or settlement. Others require litigation, especially when the employee was fired, denied advancement, lost wages, or suffered significant harm.
Potential Outcomes
A workplace discrimination matter may result in:
Lost wages
Future lost earnings
Compensation for emotional distress
Punitive damages where available
Attorney’s fees where authorized
Reasonable accommodation where appropriate
Correction of employment records
Settlement of employment claims
Policy or workplace changes
Litigation when settlement is not appropriate
Timelines vary based on the claim type, available evidence, employer response, administrative requirements, and whether the matter proceeds through negotiation, agency complaint, arbitration, or court litigation.
BH Workplace Discrimination Case Results
Buchsbaum Haag attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for employees in discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination matters throughout Southern California. Career results exceed $50 million in settlements, awards, and verdicts, including a $1.17 million jury verdict against the City of Pasadena. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Workplace discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee or job applicant unfairly because of a protected characteristic, such as age, disability, gender, pregnancy, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Discrimination may affect hiring, pay, promotion, discipline, job assignments, leave, accommodations, or termination. It can be direct and obvious or subtle — employers often frame unlawful treatment as a performance issue, restructuring, or policy decision.
California law protects a broad range of characteristics, including race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, age, pregnancy, marital status, reproductive health decision-making, and military or veteran status. California’s protections are broader than federal law in several respects, which can affect the strength and scope of a discrimination claim.
Yes. Employers rarely admit to discriminating. A termination, demotion, or denial of promotion is often attributed to performance, restructuring, attendance, or a policy violation. A discrimination claim may still be viable if the evidence shows the employer’s stated reason is inconsistent, unsupported, or applied differently to employees outside the protected class. Emails, personnel records, timing, and comparisons to similarly situated employees often become central to these cases.
No. California law prohibits retaliation against employees who report discrimination, oppose unlawful treatment, or participate in an investigation or legal proceeding. Retaliation may include termination, demotion, discipline, reduced hours, negative performance reviews, or exclusion from opportunities. If an employer takes adverse action after a discrimination complaint, that retaliation may give rise to a separate legal claim.
Depending on the facts, employees may recover lost wages, future lost earnings, and compensation for emotional distress. Punitive damages may be available when the employer’s conduct was especially egregious. Attorney’s fees are available in successful discrimination cases under California law, which means many employees can pursue claims without paying legal fees upfront. The strength and value of a case depends on the specific facts, available evidence, and the harm the employee suffered.
Contact Our
Workplace Discrimination Lawyers
If you believe you were fired, demoted, underpaid, denied promotion, denied accommodation, harassed, or otherwise mistreated because of a protected characteristic, Buchsbaum Haag can evaluate your situation and explain your legal options.
Buchsbaum Haag represents employees in workplace discrimination matters throughout Southern California, including Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange County, and surrounding communities. Our office is located in Long Beach.
To arrange a free confidential consultation, call 562-733-2498. Hablamos español.