Los Angeles Employment Law Blog

For LGBT workers in California, workplace discrimination continues to be a major concern. The U.S. Supreme Court will be taking up a case to assess once more whether or not federal civil rights law provides nationwide protection against discrimination on the job on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The high court said that it will hear some cases alleging that the plaintiffs were fired due to their sexual orientation as well as the case of a funeral home worker who was fired after announcing she was transitioning to living as a woman.

These days, turning a profit is a top priority for many American business owners. Unfortunately, some employers try to cut costs and boost their bottom lines by discriminating against older people. As you can probably imagine, older workers tend to have more experience, and as a result, they often expect and deserve higher salaries. Some employers avoid having to pay those higher salaries by only hiring younger workers.

California workers who are 40 or older have legal protection against ageism in the workplace. From a legal standpoint, age discrimination is viewed as seriously as discrimination based on race, gender or other protected attributes. However, it is not uncommon for workers to be terminated or otherwise passed over for younger workers within an organization. This happens at companies of all sizes and regardless of a person’s salary.

According to data from the Pew Research Center, women in California and the rest of the country brought home 85 percent of what men earned in 2018. The statistic is based on an analysis of the average hourly earnings for part-time and full-time workers in America. Using this estimate, women would have to work an additional 39 days to earn what men earned in 2018.

Writing scripts for television shows that are produced in California can be a lucrative occupation. However, it has been found that many diverse TV writers aren’t having their contributions valued. In fact, a report prepared by a consortium of working TV writers and a noted therapist found that more than 60 percent of diverse TV writers experienced some type of on-the-job discrimination, bias, or harassment.

Holding on to a job while pregnant can prove hard for some women, and this may prove especially true for those grappling with severe morning sickness or related issues that can make day-to-day life immensely difficult. Being pregnant in the workplace can prove even more troubling, however, if you work for an employer that does not respect your condition or the laws that govern how employers must treat pregnant women.

Workers in California may be interested to learn that the United Parcel Service just settled a case with the U.S. Equal Employment Commission for $4.9 million. The case revolved around religious discrimination in which UPS was accused of not accommodating its employees’ religious beliefs.

Ikea is well known to consumers in California who need home furnishings. However, a growing list of lawsuits paints a picture of a company that’s hostile to older workers. In a little over 12 months, five employees have filed lawsuits against the company complaining of age discrimination. A statement from the company highlighted its philosophy of inclusion and equality but did not address specific complaints from the plaintiffs.

Google employees will no longer be prevented from taking part in class-action lawsuits or suing the company over matters such as wrongful termination and discrimination. The California-based company announced that it was relaxing its mandatory arbitration rules in a Feb. 21 press release. The move marks the second time the it has relaxed its rules regarding workplace claims in recent months. In November, Google waived its mandatory arbitration requirement for assault and sexual harassment claims after 20,000 of its employees walked out in protest.