The prominence of racism in our society and the workplace is a topic that simply cannot be avoided. Despite the belief that many hold that we live in a society where racism isn’t a problem, those who have been subjected to workplace racial discrimination indicate that this belief couldn’t be further from the truth. Unfortunately, racism is still a battle that many employees fight on a day-to-day basis. In many cases, workers often fail to realize how prevalent this type of discrimination is. To help victims understand if they may have been subject to unfair discriminatory behavior based on their race, it’s important to make clear exactly what racial discrimination in the workplace entails.
Although it would be ideal to think that racial discrimination has been eradicated from workplaces in our society. It is still very possible, however, to encounter illegal discrimination at work based on an employee’s race. There are times when discrimination based on race may be difficult to detect, meaning that employees never seek legal compensation for discriminatory behavior. Similarly, there are often cases where employers might unintentionally discriminate by implementing practices or policies that have a disproportionate impact on certain races.
If you suspect you are being discriminated against in the workplace based on your race, it is important you speak to an experienced racial discrimination attorney. The employment lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates can help protect your rights as a California employee. Our racial discrimination lawyers have the knowledge, experience, and resources to handles all types of discrimination cases. With multiple offices located in Irvine, Anaheim, Los Angeles, El Segundo, Riverside and San Diego, our labor law attorneys represent victims of racial discrimination across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, please call 949-727-9300.
As part of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is unlawful to discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, or religion in employment relationships. In the state of California, employees are also protected against discrimination by the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) of 1999. An employer may also not refrain from offering an employee an opportunity based on race, perceived race, skin color, hair color, facial features, or by associating the employee with any person of a particular race. People should never be denied the ability to be hired based on their race or their racial characteristics.
Employees who have faced racial discrimination at work have been treated differently based on their color or race. While this type of discrimination might seem like it’s always obvious, in many cases, it can be very difficult to identify. Sometimes, employers may not even realize they are discriminating, as it isn’t overtly intentional. There are also instances where racial discrimination is obvious, and many employees suffer the consequences, but no one ever says anything about it. This can often be due to a fear of retaliation.
The reasons discrimination goes unreported are numerous, which is why employees need to hire an experienced lawyer who is familiar with the complexities of such hostile environments. If you feel like you or someone you know might have been a victim of workplace racial discrimination, it’s important to know that waws are taken very seriously when it comes to combating racial discrimination.
Many employees are surprised to learn that it’s entirely possible to combat racial discrimination in the workplace with the help of an attorney who has expertise in this field. However, to present a strong case, lawyers need as much evidence provided by the victim as they can get.
Racial discrimination can take many forms, some being more obvious than others. For example, an employer implementing a policy that says women have to wear their hair in a certain style that isn’t accessible to certain races is discriminatory behavior. More commonly, many people feel that they weren’t hired or were denied a promotion or fair wage based upon their race.
Racially discriminatory behaviors occur at work when an employee or job applicant is treated unfavorably because of his or her race, skin color or complexion, hair texture, or any other feature related to race. Namely, racial discrimination occurs when an employer does one or more of the following because of someone’s race or racial characteristics:
Additionally, harassment is also a form of racial discrimination. Harassment in the workplace might include:
For those who believe racial discrimination in the workplace is no longer an issue, they may be surprised at the numerous statistics that clearly state otherwise. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission handles the majority of claims relating to racial discrimination, and in 2017, there were more than 28,000 EEOC complaints filed. Of course, this only includes complaints that came to fruition. As discussed previously, many employees are entirely unaware that they are the victim of racial discrimination, and many more never file a complaint about fear of retaliation or lack of representation.
The tens of thousands of complaints made annually take many different forms. For example, statistics have repeatedly indicated that those with “white-sounding names” are more likely to get an interview than job-seekers of African-American descent. Additionally, once hired, people of color in the same position will be paid significantly less than white employees.
Even with awareness that racial discrimination in the workplace is occurring, many employees still have trouble filing a complaint or winning the compensation they deserve. It is easy to understand why many job seekers, current employees, and wrongfully terminated employees can become discouraged when only a tiny fraction of claims result in monetary compensation. In fact, just over one percent of claims result in financial compensation. In order to ensure your complaint is taken seriously and you get the compensation you deserve, representation by a lawyer with specific expertise in racial discrimination is critical.
If you feel like you might have been victimized at work because of your race, it’s important to contact an attorney and discuss your specific case. Speaking with a lawyer directly can be hugely beneficial, as there is some limitation to the information that can be found on the internet regarding workplace discrimination cases. You must contact an employment attorney with experience in handling these types of specific cases because there is often a great deal of detail involved.
Before speaking to an attorney, make sure to gather as much evidence and information about your specific case as possible. It’s best to do this as quickly as possible without making it known that you are seeking legal representation. There have been cases in which businesses have destroyed evidence due to the concern that they could be sued. Working with an employment lawyer who can understand your case and develop an effective strategy is the best way to advocate for yourself in racial discrimination cases.
If you have been a target of racial discrimination, contact the employment lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates to protect your legal rights. Our racial discrimination attorneys will help you get the justice you deserve. With multiple offices located in Irvine, Anaheim, Los Angeles, El Segundo, Riverside and San Diego, our employment lawyers represent victims of racial discrimination across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, please call 949-727-9300.
