Workplace Discrimination

Workplace discrimination occurs when an employee is treated unfairly because of a legally protected characteristic, including race, religion, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or age. Discrimination can take many forms, and it is not limited to termination. Unlawful bias may surface at any stage of employment, including hiring, training, performance evaluations, promotions, discipline, compensation, or layoffs.

In many cases, discrimination is not explicit. Employers often attempt to justify unfair treatment as business judgment, restructuring, or performance‑based decision‑making. However, when a protected characteristic plays any role in how an employee is treated, the conduct may violate California law. Discriminatory practices frequently emerge through patterns of unequal treatment rather than isolated acts.

California’s employment laws are intended to ensure that decisions are based on merit and performance, not stereotypes, assumptions, or prejudice. When employers fail to meet that standard, employees have the right to seek remedies through the civil court system.

Common Examples of Workplace Discrimination

• Unequal discipline or harsher scrutiny applied to certain employees
• Exclusion from training, projects, or advancement opportunities
• Denial of promotions despite qualifications and strong performance
• Biased termination or layoff decisions
• Discriminatory comments influencing evaluations or discipline
• Unequal pay for substantially similar work
• Retaliation after reporting discrimination or asserting workplace rights

Why Identifying Discrimination Matters

When discrimination goes unchallenged, it often escalates. Employees may experience long‑term career damage, financial loss, emotional distress, or wrongful termination. Documenting unequal treatment and recognizing patterns early can be critical in exposing unlawful conduct and holding employers accountable in court.

How Our Attorneys Can Help

At Servin Rodriguez Law, we focus on uncovering and litigating unlawful workplace discrimination through civil claims. We conduct detailed investigations into employer conduct by examining employment histories, workplace policies, internal communications, and decision‑making patterns. Our analysis centers on comparative treatment, how similarly situated employees were treated, and whether protected characteristics influenced key employment decisions.

When discrimination results in lost wages, lost benefits, emotional distress, or termination, we pursue full compensation and accountability through litigation. We are prepared to challenge employers who deny responsibility and to present evidence effectively in court.

Every employee deserves fair treatment and equal opportunity. When discrimination interferes with those rights, we are ready to act.