Riverside Sex Discrimination Lawyers
Protecting Workers from Sex or Gender Discrimination in Workplaces Across Southern California
Discriminating against an employee based on their sex or gender is unlawful under both California and federal law. Employers may not take adverse employment actions against an employee based on their sex, nor may they retaliate against an employee for filing a legal claim concerning sex discrimination allegations.
If you blew the whistle on wrongful sex discrimination in your workplace, or if you have been subjected to discrimination based on your gender by a California employer, you could have a claim for compensation. Do not let unscrupulous employers get away with discriminatory conduct. Call the Southern California sex discrimination legal team at Ochoa & Calderon for help. We will fight for your job, appropriate compensation, and the justice you deserve.
Federal and California Laws Prohibit Sex Discrimination
Both federal law and California state law prohibit sex discrimination in the workplace. Concerning federal law, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) protects employees against discrimination based on certain specified characteristics, including sex. Title VII applies to all employers, whether private or public, with 15 or more employees. No company covered by Title VII can fire, demote, refuse to hire, or undertake any other adverse employment action against a person based on their sex.
California law has its own sex discrimination protections in addition to the federal law. The California Fair Pay Act, the California Equal Pay Act of 1949, and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) all prohibit various forms of gender discrimination. FEHA applies to private and public employers, labor organizations, apprentice training programs, employment agencies, and licensing boards. FEHA’s antidiscrimination protections extend to any employer with five or more employees, rendering it broader than Title VII.
What Constitutes Sex Discrimination?
It is unlawful for employers to discriminate against a person based on their sex or gender. Discrimination can take many forms. While terminating or refusing to hire an employee based on their sex is the classic form of sex discrimination, many other types of conduct also constitute unlawful sex discrimination. Sex discrimination in the workplace can include any of the following:
- Paying similarly-situated employees differently as a result of their genders
- Firing or refusing to hire an employee as a result of their gender or sex
- Demoting, reducing pay, or denying benefits to an employee as a result of their gender or sex
- Retaliating against an employee for taking protected leave for pregnancy or otherwise taking any adverse action as a result of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or a related medical condition
- Denying training or advancement opportunities as a result of an employee’s sex or gender
- Otherwise discriminating against a person in their compensation or conditions of employment
The sex discrimination attorneys at Ochoa & Calderon pursue discrimination claims on behalf of employees subjected to sex discrimination, gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, retaliation, or any other form of discrimination in the workplace. We hold employers to task when they violate the laws and the rights of their employees.
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
The Supreme Court of the United States recently held that “sex discrimination” includes discrimination based on an employee’s sexual orientation or gender identity. While California law already included specific prohibitions against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, federal law was less clear. The federal administration under President Biden has fully endorsed the Supreme Court’s opinion and intends to broadly pursue sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination cases.
If there was any lack of clarity before, both federal and California state laws are crystal clear now:Â An employer may not discriminate against an employee because they are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise based on their orientation or identity.
Sex Discrimination Attorneys Serving Riverside and Southern California
If you have been subjected to discrimination or harassment in the workplace as a result of your sex or gender, call the California sex discrimination legal team at Ochoa & Calderon for a free consultation. We take appropriate cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only charge a fee if we are successful on your behalf, and our fees come as a percentage of the amount we recover for you. You’ve got nothing to lose by calling now, but you could miss out on enforcing your legal rights if you wait too long. Call us at 951-901-4444 in Riverside or throughout Southern California at 844-401-0750. Our lawyers are here to fight for you.
