Both California and the federal government have passed laws that prohibiting discrimination on the basis of certain protected characteristics. Under state and Federal law, both private and public employers in Patterson may be found liable for discrimination, depending on what type of trait originally prompted the discrimination.

How Does Employment Discrimination Occur?

Employment discrimination occurs if an employer treats you wrongly because of your membership in a legally protected category. Employers may not base their evaluations of you on certain traits including religion, race, age, gender, national origin, and familial status. In order for a claim of employment discrimination to be proven, a Patterson, California plaintiff must show that his (or her) employer actively intended to treat him differently because of his protected status.

How can Employment Discrimination be Proven in California?

This may be proved when there is a history of the employer treating members of the class similarly, or if witnesses testify about the employer's statements which would constitute bias as understood by a reasonable person. Additionally, employers who fire someone or retaliate against them for bringing a discrimination lawsuit are clearly in violation of the law.

Because it involves filing a claim with specificed agencies, the procedure for pursuing employment discrimination claims can be complicated. An Patterson, California attorney can help you file on time, as well as pursue any additional remedies that may be available to you while your case is pending.