Los Angeles, California Employment Law Blog

One's workplace should be a safe place. It should not be a place where certain aspects of one's personal life affect how one is treated. Unfortunately, discrimination in the workplace is a very real problem in California and elsewhere. A recent case in another state shows just how seriously this issue is taken.

According to reports, on Friday, Oct. 25, after a week-long trial, the jury hearing an employment discrimination and retaliation case awarded the plaintiff nearly $20 million. This case all started back in 2014 when, after over five years of trying to achieve a promotion, a police officer was told that his sexuality was an issue and the reason behind his inability to achieve lieutenant status. Two years later, this officer filed a discrimination claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. One month after doing so, he was moved to another station further away from his home and assigned the night shift. This caused him to file a retaliation claim as well.

While the vast majority of businesses in California operate above board, there are a few where employees may notice questionable, possibly illegal things taking place. Those who are witness to such things have every right to speak up. A whistleblower should feel free to express concerns without fear of retaliation.

There are both state and federal laws in place that protect whistleblowers. In order to be protected under state or federal laws, a whistleblower has to have reason to believe his or her employer is violating the law. He or she also has to report the issue to the proper authorities -- either one's employer or a federal agency.

Every day, numerous California residents are fired from their jobs. For some, this is done with good reason. For others, wrongful termination may be suspected. When it is, victims may seek relief through legal means.

The simple truth of the matter is, not all firings are illegal. The majority of the workforce in the United States are at-will employees. This means that these individuals can be fired whenever, even if there seems no reason for it. Those who have employment contracts may also be fired, as long as their layoffs are done according to the terms offered in their contracts.

Federal and California laws prohibit discrimination against a number of protected classes during any phase of the employment process. This means an employer may not refuse employment, raises, promotions or other opportunities to someone based on the person’s race, religion, sex, age or other factors. However, in recent years, older Americans are noticing signs that employers may not be taking age discrimination as seriously as they should. However, many question whether men or women over 40 are more likely to face this discrimination.