If your employer lets you go. overlooks you for a promotion or for tasks with more responsibility, you might suspect they did so because of your age. If you ask them outright, they’ll probably deny it and give you another reason. So how can you tell if they are...
Discrimination
How is workplace discrimination prevented?
Federal laws protect employees from unsafe work environments – including the hazards of workplace discrimination. Discrimination often targets people’s characteristics, such as people’s race, color, sexual preferences, age, disabilities and gender. People who...
New changes may make caste a protected characteristic in CA
In early July, 2023, the California Senate voted overwhelmingly in favor of adding the word “caste” as part of the definition of “ancestry” in the state’s anti-discrimination laws. If Senate Bill 403 becomes law, it will be the first statewide measure to end caste...
How to be an ally when you see discrimination in the workplace
You wouldn’t dream about discriminating against a co-worker (or anybody else) – but what do you do when you witness workplace discrimination happen right in front of your eyes? Maybe you’ve seen your supervisor mock another employee’s gender expression, or maybe...
Can your employer ask you to retire?
The employment space can be uncomfortable in some instances. Your employer can create a hostile work environment by their words and actions. The California Labor Commissioner's Office educates workers on their rights to help them identify when they are mistreated. ...
What is reasonable accommodation at your workplace?
Reasonable accommodation describes changes made to the work environment or to the way work is performed to enable employees with disabilities to perform their jobs to the best of their abilities. This term applies to all aspects of employment, including job...
What does modern pre-employment age discrimination look like?
Anti-workplace discrimination laws have been around for some time but were not well-known by employees and employers. Decades ago, workers felt that finding and keeping a steady job meant putting up with some mistreatment. The employers of previous eras had...
New California employment laws for 2023 advance workers’ rights
The law is always changing. Each year, judges render decisions and legislators pass bills that change the legal landscape of California. In 2023, workers will benefit from a host of new or reinforced protections as a result of this ongoing legal evolution. It is...
Are workplace favoritism and nepotism the same as discrimination?
Few things are as frustrating as seeing some people get better treatment than others in the workplace. While employer favoritism and nepotism are morally wrong, it is only illegal in certain circumstances. Employers typically have the freedom to run their operations...
Are you a victim of hair and grooming discrimination?
There are countless types of discrimination that can occur in the workplace. One that may not be as obvious or discussed is hair and grooming discrimination. For years, some stereotypes have been in place related to natural hairstyles and textures that have natural...