Workers’ protections against discrimination and harassment on the job are being rolled back at the federal level. Fortunately, employees in California continue to have strong rights under state laws.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the federal agency responsible for enforcing laws against workplace discrimination and harassment. The EEOC has overhauled its approach since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.
The agency said it would no longer pursue “disparate impact” claims challenging employment policies that appear neutral on their face but disproportionately affect certain groups of workers. The EEOC also signaled that it will not protect transgender and other employees from discrimination based on gender identity. The agency instead is turning more of its attention to combating religious discrimination at work and ensuring the rights of pregnant employees.
The shifting priorities raise complicated questions for anyone who believes they are being discriminated against on the job. In California, however, nothing has changed: State law continues to give workers broad protection against employment discrimination and harassment. It also empowers them to take action when their rights are violated.
At Justice Law Corporation, our California discrimination lawyers help working people fight back to protect their rights on the job and ensure fair pay. We are seasoned attorneys who have dedicated our careers to assisting people in discrimination and other cases. Our firm is proud of its track record of success for clients, including numerous settlements and verdicts in pay and discrimination cases.
California’s employment discrimination laws are now more important than perhaps ever before. Here is what you need to know.
California Employment Discrimination Protections
Two laws in California protect workers from discrimination and harassment: The California Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Fair Pay Act. Together, these laws generally prohibit workplace discrimination and harassment based on:
- Race
- Ethnicity
- Gender
- Age
- Disability
- Pregnancy
- Religion
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
- Marital status
The Fair Pay Act, as its name suggests, focuses on compensation. It bans employers from paying workers less because of their sex, race, or ethnicity.
The FEHA covers a broader range of workplace bias. It prohibits discrimination in decisions related to hiring, firing, pay, promotions, job assignments, and training opportunities. For pregnant and disabled workers, the FEHA also gives you the right to certain reasonable accommodations. These are adjustments to schedules, duties, or work environments that are designed to allow workers to continue performing their jobs.
The laws are similar in many ways to federal laws banning various forms of workplace discrimination, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC enforces the federal laws, while California Civil Rights Department (CRD) enforces the state laws.
California laws go further to protect workers in the state, however. The FEHA covers employers with at least five employees, while Title VII covers those with at least 15 employees. That means workers at startups and other very small businesses may have protections at the state level that they do not have under federal law.
Additionally, workers in California have more time to file a discrimination claim under state law than they do under Title VII. They generally have three years to file claims with the CRD, but only 180 to 300 days to file claims with the EEOC.
Fighting Back Against Employment Discrimination
Anyone who has been discriminated against on the job has the right to take action against their employer. That includes filing claims with CRD and the EEOC, as well as pursuing individual lawsuits or joining together with other employees in class actions.
Employees alleging workplace discrimination can seek a variety of legal remedies, depending on the situation.
- Back pay and lost wages: Compensation for wages and benefits the employee lost because of the discrimination.
- Reinstatement or promotion: Courts or agencies can order the employer to reinstate an employee who was terminated or demoted based on discriminatory reasons. They can also order the employer to promote someone who was passed over for an opportunity because of discrimination.
- Front pay: If reinstatement is not practical, courts may award front pay to cover future earnings the employee would have received had the discrimination not occurred.
- Non-economic damages: In some cases, a worker who has been discriminated against may also recover compensation for emotional distress.
- Punitive damages: Additional money damages are awarded in limited situations in which an employer is found to act recklessly or with malice. These damages are intended to punish the employer for bad behavior.
- Attorney’s fees and court costs: Employees who win their cases can recover reasonable attorney’s fees and litigation costs.
It is important to understand the process in these cases. An employee or group of employees accusing their employer of discrimination must file a claim with CRD or the EEOC before filing a lawsuit.
The Power of Class Actions
A class action is a powerful tool that allows workers to join together in a lawsuit against their employer. Class actions are common in discrimination cases alleging that an employer’s policy or practice has had a discriminatory impact on a group of workers because of their race, sex or other protected status.
There is strength in numbers. Suing as a class gives a group of workers leverage against the employers that they would not have if they pursued individual lawsuits. These suits also allow workers to share some of the costs and risks of pursuing legal action.
Our California Discrimination Lawyers Can Help
If you believe that you are being discriminated against on the job, whether it is by being passed over for a position, underpaid in your role, or in other terms and conditions, you do not need to go it alone. A California discrimination lawyer at Justice Law Corporation can help you evaluate your claim and understand your rights and options. Our office is conveniently located in Pasadena. Contact us at (818) 230-7502 to schedule a free consultation with a California discrimination lawyer.
