California laws and federal laws strictly prohibit racial discrimination in the workplace. This doesn’t mean employers never discriminate against workers based on race.
If you believe a current or former employer has violated a workplace racial discrimination law, you may be able to hold them accountable by taking legal action. Review your case with a Long Beach racial discrimination attorney at The Kaufman Law Firm to learn more about your options.
Racial discrimination in the workplace consists of two essential types of discrimination:
The experts at our Long Beach racial discrimination law firm can help you better understand how the differences between the two main types of workplace discrimination might influence your case and our strategy.
Workplace racial discrimination cases involving disparate treatment are those in which an employee of a certain race is being intentionally treated differently from others. Examples include (but are not limited to):
Those are just a few examples. If you’re not sure whether the way you’ve been treated at work qualifies as a violation of workplace racial discrimination laws, meet with an attorney for more information about your legal options.
Unlike disparate treatment cases, disparate impact cases may not involve clear or intentional discriminatory treatment. These cases arise when workers of a particular race are unfairly disadvantaged as a result of workplace policies.
The notion of disparate impact dates back to the Supreme Court case of Griggs v. Duke Power Co, when Black employees of Duke Power’s Dan River Steam Station in North Carolina in the 1950s were often unable to work in any department at the company aside from the lowest-paying one.
The company was not overtly refusing to let Black workers move to higher-paying departments. However, to qualify for a job in another department, an employee would be required to have a high school diploma.
This was a time when many Black workers at the company had not graduated high school. The court eventually ruled that the company policy was not justified because not having a high school diploma didn’t genuinely limit one’s abilities to perform the duties associated with roles in higher-paying departments. Thus, although the company might not have been actively discriminating against its Black workforce, by enacting this policy, the company had engaged in illegal discrimination anyway.
Proving that your employer’s policies serve no legitimate business purpose but do result in unnecessary challenges for employees of a certain race can be difficult to do on your own. This is a task a qualified Long Beach racial discrimination attorney can assist you with.
Despite being illegal, racial discrimination in the workplace still occurs. Employees can seek justice when it does.
At The Kaufman Law Firm, experienced Long Beach racial discrimination lawyer Matthew A. Kaufman is prepared to help you build a case against an employer who has broken the law. Learn more about how we can help by contacting us online or calling us at 310-981-3404.
Your job is more than just a source of income. It is a major part of your lifestyle. If you have been the victim of wrongful termination, wrongful demotion or any kind of discriminatory business practices, it is time to take action and contact a Ventura employment law attorney that can help. Attorney Matthew A. Kaufman and the team at The Kaufman Law Firm bring experience and a vast arsenal of legal resources to help clients recover the money they deserve.
To learn more, contact our California law office today and schedule an initial evaluation to discuss your case.