Race Discrimination Lawyers Los Angeles

Racial discrimination can have a lasting effect on one’s quality of life. If you feel as though you’ve been subject to racial discrimination at work, reach out to Kesluk, Silverstein, Jacob, & Morrison and speak with an experienced Los Angeles racial discrimination lawyer today.

Attorneys with Decades of California Employment Law Experience

If you suspect racial discrimination at work, then you may be able to secure relief under state or federal race discrimination laws. Federal law remedies for discrimination are based upon Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This law applies to employers with 15 or more employees. Similar state anti-discrimination laws usually protect people who work for smaller employers.

Identifying Racial Discrimination in the Workplace

What Are Signs of Racial Discrimination at Work? Racial Discrimination Definition

Discrimination may occur at any stage of employment. This includes the initial hiring decision, promotions, layoffs/reductions in force (RIF), compensation, benefits, job assignments, training, or termination of employment. Racial discrimination may also manifest itself through racist comments or harassment at work. Discrimination may be based upon any immutable racial characteristics, including skin, eye or hair color, and certain facial features. You can make a discrimination claim based upon:

Disparate Treatment

The employee is subject to discrimination because of race, ethnicity, skin color, or a similar characteristic.

Disparate Impact

Although the employer may not intend to discriminate, the employer’s policies adversely affect employees on the basis of race, ethnicity, skin color or a similar characteristic.

Certain employer conduct raises questions about their intentions and may be suggestive of discriminatory motives. For example, let’s say an employer makes pre-employment inquiries that appear designed to determine a job candidate’s racial background. That would then raise the concern that it will use the information in the hiring decision. If an employer that employs few minorities engages in that type of conduct, then the conduct may stand as evidence of discriminatory hiring practices.

Examples of Racial Discrimination in the Workplace

Harassment or discrimination on the basis of race or color, including offensive comments or jokes, other statements or conduct based on race or color that creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment or interferes with the employee’s work performance.
Classifications of employees, such that employees of particular races, ethnicities, or skin colors are isolated from other employees, from customer contact, or relegated to certain jobs or positions.
Assignment of employees of a particular race, color, or ethnicity to particular establishments or geographic areas.

How to Prove Race Discrimination

Ordinarily, before you can file a racial discrimination lawsuit, you must first file a complaint with an administrative agency. For a federal complaint, you would first file the complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). You can also make complaints to state and local agencies under California discrimination law. Sometimes, the agency will take and prosecute your racial discrimination case on your behalf. If the agency does not act within a specific time frame or declines to act on your behalf, then you may file a private race discrimination lawsuit.

Under typical anti-discrimination law, the plaintiff, or victim of race discrimination, must prove the following:

The plaintiff was a member of a protected class;
The plaintiff was qualified for the job for which he or she applied, or that he or she was meeting the employer’s legitimate job expectations at the time of discipline or termination of employment;
Sometimes, the plaintiff was not hired or was not promoted, and somebody outside of the protected class was instead hired or promoted, or the plaintiff was fired and replaced by somebody outside of the protected class;
The circumstances of the employer’s hiring, promotion, or termination decision give rise to a reasonable inference of discrimination;
That the employer’s nondiscriminatory explanation for its actions was a mere pretext for racial discrimination, ie., it is a false explanation to make its discriminatory action appear legitimate.

Can My Boss Hold the Racial Discrimination Complaint Against Me?

Title VII also protects employees who file discrimination charges, who participate in an investigation or litigation associated with a complaint of racial discrimination, or who testify in related proceedings. State laws typically have similar provisions. It is possible for an employee to lose a racial discrimination claim but still win a judgment against an employer on the basis of workplace retaliation.

Find Race Discrimination Lawyers Near Me

If you feel as though you have faced racial discrimination on the job, we recommend reaching out and contacting the Los Angeles race discrimination lawyers at Kesluk, Silverstein, Jacob, & Morrison. We offer a free initial consultation that gives you an opportunity to work alongside an experienced Los Angeles racial discrimination attorney so you can learn more about the details and particulars of your case.

Our Los Angeles racial discrimination attorneys can also provide information about what you can do about race or ethnicity discrimination and can potentially help you earn the compensation you and your family deserve. To learn more, reach out to Kesluk, Silverstein, Jacob, & Morrison in Los Angeles and set up your free initial consultation with a staff member today.