A Buena Park workplace discrimination lawyer represents employees who have experienced unfair treatment due to characteristics protected by law. Workplace discrimination can impact hiring, promotions, wages, job assignments, discipline, or termination, and it can have serious financial and emotional consequences for workers and their families.
At Kristy & Kananen, we recognize the negative effects that unlawful workplace behavior can cause, and we are dedicated to assisting employees in understanding their rights under California law and determining their available options.
Kristy & Kananen has been serving California clients since 2000, handling cases involving a wide range of workplace disputes. The firm was established in 2000 and adopted its current name in 2023 when Kurt Kananen joined the firm, offering informed legal counsel supported by years of combined experience.
While many employment cases are settled or resolved without litigation, our firm is ready to take on cases in court if that is what is required to effectively serve our clients in and around Buena Park. We are dedicated to advocating for employee rights through prompt communication, practical advice, and tenacious legal advocacy.
In California, an employer cannot base its employment decisions on a protected characteristic rather than on the employee’s qualifications or performance. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act, California Government Code § 12940 et seq., provides that an employer may not discriminate against an employee in hiring, firing, promotions, compensation, job assignments, or other terms, conditions, or privileges of employment.
Protected characteristics include, but are not limited to, race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, national origin, pregnancy, and others specified by the statute. The question of whether discrimination has occurred in the workplace is often fact-dependent, requiring an examination of employment records, policies, witness statements, and other circumstances.
Workplace discrimination can occur in many ways and is not always immediately obvious. An employee may be passed over for a promotion, raise, or training opportunity because of a protected characteristic. Other employees may face disparate discipline, wrongful termination, or undesirable job assignments.
Discrimination can also involve an employer’s failure to provide reasonable accommodation for a disability or sincerely held religious belief when required by law. In other cases, discriminatory comments or a pattern of unequal treatment can make the workplace a hostile environment.
In many instances, it may be necessary to compare the treatment of employees who are similarly situated and were facing similar circumstances, as well as to consider the employer’s stated reasons for taking the action it did.
Compelling evidence may be critical in proving that unlawful workplace discrimination occurred. Useful documentation could consist of emails, text messages, personnel files, performance reviews, disciplinary actions, pay stubs, employee handbooks, and written complaints filed with management or human resources.
Witness statements from coworkers can also be important to establish patterns of differential treatment or discriminatory behavior. Workers should keep relevant records if possible and not destroy documents or delete electronic records. Gathering and organizing evidence early can make it easier to assess potential legal claims and create a clear timeline of events.
If you believe you have experienced workplace discrimination, taking prompt action may help protect your legal rights. Document the dates of the incidents and the names of the persons involved, and keep all emails, letters, memos, or other documentation that may support your case. To the extent appropriate, you should also make use of your employer’s internal complaint process and keep a copy of the complaint and any response you receive.
California employees are also required to file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department before filing certain types of discrimination legal claims in court. Speaking with an employment attorney early can help you understand applicable deadlines, evaluate your legal options, and determine the most appropriate course of action.
A Buena Park workplace discrimination claim does not require an employee to lose their job. Discrimination in the workplace can take the form of unequal pay, denial of promotions, unfair discipline, or other adverse employment action based on a protected characteristic. California employees are protected throughout the course of their employment relationship, and an attorney can help determine whether your employer may have violated those protections.
Workplace discrimination claims are filed every year in California. The California Civil Rights Department received 33,505 intake forms claiming civil rights violations in 2024. Although an intake form is not evidence that discrimination took place, the total does show how often California employees turn to the department for help with suspected workplace discrimination and other civil rights issues.
If an employee can prove workplace discrimination, they may be able to recover monetary compensation as allowed by California law and the facts of the case. Possible remedies include lost wages and benefits, emotional distress damages, and other available relief under the law. The types and amount of compensation available depend on the employer’s conduct, the harm suffered, and the evidence presented.
Workplace discrimination remains a reality for employees throughout the country. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported that it received 88,531 new discrimination charges in fiscal year 2024. While filing a charge does not necessarily indicate that an employer has violated the law, EEOC data demonstrates that employees are still submitting thousands of potential workplace discrimination claims annually.
Kristy & Kananen is committed to helping employees understand their legal rights and pursue appropriate remedies under California law. From negotiating a resolution to litigating your case in court, our firm offers informed guidance and vigorous advocacy every step of the way.
Acting in a timely manner can preserve valuable evidence and protect your right to file a workplace discrimination claim. Schedule a consultation today and trust our team to help you recover the compensation you may be entitled to.
Contact Kristy & Kananen to discuss your employment law, construction defect or insurance-bad-faith claim. There are no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
To meet with an experienced lawyer to discuss your employment law matter, construction
defect or insurance bad faith claim. There are no attorney’s fees unless we recover
compensation on your behalf.
Contact Us Today 866-981-1498
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