Race discrimination is about being prejudiced against someone and treating them unfavorably on account of their race. While many of us would like to believe that American society has advanced enough to put race discrimination behind us, the reality, unfortunately, is not what we want it to be. Many people still experience some or the other form of race discrimination at work.
Some common examples of race discrimination in the workplace are:
• Not being hired for a position you are qualified for.
• Not receiving a promotion that you deserve.
• Receiving a lower salary than other employees for the same amount of work.
• Being harassed, insulted, and humiliated with racially-laden language by work colleagues, supervisors, and employers.
Being discriminated in these and other ways can turn the workplace into a toxic, unbearable environment. Many people cannot put up with the daily stress and, as a result, are unable to perform to their full potential. In turn, this can affect the overall productivity of the company. That, however, is not the only reason why employers should take immediate measures against this type of employee mistreatment. Race discrimination is also a legal offense and employers can be held liable for it.
If you are being discriminated against on account of your race, there is no need for you to put up with it and suffer. The legal establishment is on your side. However, as the employment laws are complicated and constantly evolving, you may need to seek legal counsel to benefit from them. It will help to search for “race discrimination lawyers near me” and find a knowledgeable and competent lawyer to represent you.
Race discrimination under Californian law
Before heading off to court to sue your employer, though, it will help to first be clear about what is race discrimination under California law.
California has some of the most stringent employment laws in the United States that provide employees with various legal protections, including protection from being discriminated against for racial reasons.
According to the employment law in California, employers cannot discriminate against employees based on their race or the basis of their association with people of other races.
You don’t need to belong to a race that has faced discrimination historically to be protected by California’s race discrimination law. For instance, if you are a Caucasian, you cannot be subjected to what is known as reverse discrimination in your workplace.
Additionally, you are also protected by Californian law from being discriminated against because you are perceived to be of a specific race.
The Fair Employment and Housing Act, which the Department of Fair Employment and Housing enforces, is specific about protecting Californian employees from race-based discrimination, among other factors. If you have experienced race discrimination in your workplace, you can file a complaint with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. However, keep in mind that the Fair Employment and Housing Act applies only to employers with five or more employees.
There are also federal laws, enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, that protect you from racial discrimination in the workplace. These are:
• The Civil rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employers from discriminating against you based on your race.
• The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, which prohibits employers from using your genetic information to make employment-related decisions.
Hiring a race discrimination lawyer
As mentioned before, to find out which race discrimination law applies to your particular situation and to enforce it, you will need to hire a race discrimination lawyer. After searching online for “race discrimination lawyers near me”, it is advisable to hire a lawyer based on the following factors:
• Is the lawyer knowledgeable about race discrimination law?
• Does the lawyer specialize in race discrimination law?
• Does the lawyer have sufficient experience with handling race discrimination cases?
• How many cases has the lawyer settled and how many have they taken to trial?
• What is their track record of success?
• Do they have mostly positive reviews from previous and current clients?
• Do they offer a free initial consultation?
• Do they accept cases on contingency basis?
• What do they charge in legal fees?
