Great strides have been made in advancing gender equality in the workplace over the last five decades. Thanks to the thousands of pioneers who fought hard to open doors for other women and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964), women today have more opportunities than before, particularly in industries that were previously subjugated by men.
Despite all that, there are still many hindrances that block their career paths and which affect both their compensation and roles. If you’ve been discriminated against at work, then it’s high time you got in touch with a professional Los Angeles gender discrimination lawyer for legal counsel and representation. At Fraigun Law Group, we have helped workers in different industries sue their employers for compensation.
To learn more about your rights and how we can help, call 818-981-1800 or contact our office online and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our Los Angeles employment law attorney.
What Exactly Is Gender Discrimination?
Gender discrimination in the workplace refers to when a job applicant or employee is treated less favorably and differently because of their sex or gender. For your claim to be considered valid, discrimination has to involve treatment that affects the conditions or terms of your job such as your salary, job responsibilities, and work hours, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
Gender Discrimination in the Workplace Can Be Subtle
While some forms of discrimination are quite conspicuous, like when a woman is subjected to belittling remarks by a supervisor or colleague, there are many instances when discrimination is subtle, making it hard to notice.
For example, if you are a woman and get passed over for a raise or promotion that you believe or know you’re qualified for in favor of one of your male colleagues, how do you tell if the decision was merit-based or if it was fueled by discrimination?
Since most businesses don’t divulge their salary information, it can be hard, or even impossible, to tell whether or not discrimination is occurring. If, as a worker, you feel like you are being discriminated against, your best chance of figuring things out is by approaching a professional Los Angeles gender discrimination lawyer and having them help you interpret the situation and advice you on what to do next.
The legal team at Fraigun Law Group has years of experience handling gender discrimination-related cases and can easily identify instances of discrimination in any workplace. For assistance pursuing a gender discrimination case in Los Angeles call 818-981-1800 now and schedule a consultation with our attorney.
How to Know If You Are the Victim of Gender Discrimination
While both women and men can be discriminated against in their place of work, in about 85% of the cases, it is women who are on the receiving end. Regardless, it’s still illegal for employers to form gender stereotype assumptions and make decisions based on personal prejudices.
Instances of gender discrimination often include:
Inequalities in Pay
30% of women in the workforce report being discriminated against when it comes to payment, which is illegal under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII. In most countries around the world, women only make $0.77 for every dollar a man earns with women from minority groups earning as little as $0.55.
Inequalities in Promotions or Hiring
If you aren’t hired because a business’ clients aren’t comfortable working with women or if you’ve been laid off while male colleagues with less seniority maintain their positions, you may have a case.
According to a poll conducted by Gallup, 15% of working women in America believe they’ve been unfairly denied promotion solely because of their gender. in America, about 4 out of 10 businesses have no women serving in upper management.
Benefits
In many cases, businesses refuse to offer female workers full benefit coverage while giving their male counterparts the option to cover their families as they fit the “family breadwinner” stereotype.
Job Classification
If you receive less pay, have been demoted, or haven’t been promoted while your male colleagues of lower experience and seniority get promoted and have their salaries increased, then chances are you are being discriminated against.
If you’ve noticed any of these things taking place in your workplace, consider getting in touch with a gender discrimination lawyer in Los Angeles for legal counsel and assistance.
Federal Gender Discrimination Laws
In America, the chief federal law that addresses gender discrimination in the workplace is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits the discrimination of a person based on their gender or sex. Two other federal laws address gender or sex discrimination are:
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act protects the rights of pregnant workers.
- The Equal Pay Act makes it illegal for employers to pay women different salaries or wages than men doing the same work.
California Gender Discrimination Laws and Regulations
The federal gender discrimination law is relatively poor at protecting against LGBT discrimination and has gaps in its safeguards for women as well. Due to this, California state laws add extra layers of protection for gender discrimination and establish gender expression and gender identity protections.
California’s main law concerning discrimination in places of work is the FEHA or Fair Employment and Housing Act. To enact this law, California established the Department of Fair Employment and Housing which holds civil rights hearings and conducts inquiries.
California law provides the following sex/gender discrimination protections:
- Protections for transitioning employees
- Restrictions on gendered dress codes or job duties
- A right for workers to be addressed by their chosen gender pronouns
- A more comprehensive definition of “gender identity”
- A ban against requiring workers to provide documentation/certification of their gender
In California, state and federal gender discrimination laws protect employees from discrimination based on the following traits:
- Gender Expression: Gendered styles of speech, dressing, etc.
- Gender Identity: Transgender, man, woman, genderfluid, other
- Biological Sex: Intersex, male, female, other
How Should I Handle Gender Discrimination in the Workplace?
If you believe you have been discriminated against at the workplace based on your gender, there are steps you can take to make sure it stops and that you are fairly compensated for the suffering experienced. The team at Fraigun Law Group encourages doing the following:
- File a complaint to HR or management. If the employer does not take any action, you can proceed to make a gender discrimination claim with the Department of Fair Employment & Housing (DFEH).
- If adverse actions like a demotion, wrongful termination, or refusal to hire due to gender were the reason, it is advisable to seek consultation from a seasoned employment law firm like Fraigun Law Group.
- Following a consultation with the attorney, you can file an administrative charge with the DFEH and get a right-to-sue letter. This is referred to as administrative exhaustion. Our team should handle this process on your behalf.
If the claim doesn’t get resolved early on, your attorney will file a lawsuit. That’s why it is imperative to consult an attorney with years of experience in gender and sex discrimination cases.
Call a Los Angeles Gender Discrimination Lawyer Today!
Regardless of who you are, if a prospective employer or your boss discriminates against you based on your gender or sex, that’s a violation of your rights. When that happens, make sure you consult a professional Los Angeles gender discrimination lawyer for legal counsel and assistance.
At The Fraigun Law Group, our competent and experienced gender discrimination attorney has the skills and knowledge required to help you understand your case and pursue a claim for injustices you’ve suffered due to discrimination.
Contact our Los Angeles law offices today to discuss your rights as a discrimination victim and learn your options. Call 818-981-1800 today and schedule a free consultation with our professional legal team.
