SAN FRANCISCO EMPLOYMENT LAW BLOG

Many people face struggles on a daily basis simply based on the color of their skin. Unfortunately, many California residents may deal with unjust treatment due to the discriminatory actions of other individuals. When that type of treatment comes as workplace discrimination, the situation could potentially lead to legal action if complaints go unaddressed.

It was recently reported that one man in another state took such steps due to inaction on the part of his employers, following complaints regarding derogatory racial comments. The Jamaican native works in a mental hospital and claimed that co-workers made comments relating to their hatred of black people and that black people needed to “go back to their country.” Though the man and other black employees complained to supervisors, the behavior continued.

In addition to comments from co-workers, the man also claims that he and other black workers were assigned tasks with a higher chance of physical violence than tasks given to white workers. The man filed his lawsuit against the state and two co-workers in hopes of gaining $25,000 in compensation for emotional anguish and mental distress that the discriminatory situation caused him. The state’s Department of Mental Health did not provide a comment.

Though the first step toward addressing workplace discrimination is often to file reports with superiors, as this case shows, those reports may not have the desired outcomes. In the event that discriminatory behavior is allowed to continue, filing lawsuits against the responsible parties may be warranted. California workers who believe they have been subjected to such action may wish to look into their legal options.

Source: stltoday.com, “State facing another workplace discrimination lawsuit“, Kurt Erickson, Oct. 5, 2017

The majority of people hope to have a job that they enjoy and a work environment where they feel that they are treated well. Though numerous California residents certainly have met this goal, there are many other individuals who face unfairness due to workplace discrimination. As a result, they may struggle with their daily duties or to even keep their jobs.

One man in another state endured such unfair treatment and was terminated from his position after just over a year on the job. Reports stated that the man is African-American, and while working at a water treatment company, his supervisors used racial slurs in reference to him and other black workers. Though the workers filed complaints about the actions of the supervisors, the racially-charged language continued.

The man was reportedly fired from his position with the company due to his complaints. As a result, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed a lawsuit on his and the other black workers’ behalves. The EEOC hopes that the company will utilize better practices and provide compensation to the negatively affected workers.

Workplace discrimination can often have detrimental effects on workers, even if they do not necessarily lose their jobs. If California residents feel that they have been mistreated at their places of employment due to race, gender, religion or other factors, they may wish to determine whether legal action may suit their predicaments. Speaking with attorneys experienced with this area of employment law may help concerned parties better understand their options and gain personalized insight and guidance throughout the process.

Source: philly.com, “EEOC sues Aqua America for racial discrimination“, Jane M. Von Bergen, Oct. 4, 2017

Three women have filed a class action lawsuit against Google, claiming that the tech giant has systems in place that ensure systematic pay discrimination against women. They also claim the company routinely thwarts advancement by women by promoting fewer of them and advancing them more slowly.

They allege Google violates the California Equal Pay Act, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code and other civil rights laws. They are seeking class certification along with back pay with interest, restitution and damages.

Each of the three women has a compelling story. We won’t try to reproduce all of the allegations in a blog post, but you can read all the details in this piece by the Courthouse News Service.

One example, however, was a woman who was hired as a corporate network manager in 2005. She came to Google with 10 years’ network engineering experience and, shortly after she was hired, she was made a data warehouse manager where she managed engineering teams who developed software applications, data analytics, data warehouses and other services.

Things seemed good at first, but she began to realize that she had been put on a non-technical job ladder, which meant she had a lower salary and fewer opportunities for upward mobility in the company.

She actually coached a male colleague on how to transition from the non-technical to a technical career ladder. Although the man performed poorly on technical tests, he was accepted into a technical area. The woman was not.

In 2016, she resigned from Google after 11 years, feeling it was clear the company would not allow her out of the non-technical trap she had been put in despite her generous technical experience.

These technical and non-technical job silos constitute one of the main complaints the women bring forward in the lawsuit. They claim that women are more likely to be placed on non-technical career ladders despite their qualifications, and that they find barriers to transitioning to technical ones, which are more lucrative and visible.

Moreover, they claim, women are paid less for doing the same work. “The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program’s analysis found six to seven standard deviations between pay for men and women in nearly every job classification in 2015,” reads the lawsuit. “Two standard deviations is considered statistically significant; six or seven standard deviations means there is a one in a million chance that the disparity is occurring randomly or by chance.”

If you suspect you are experiencing job discrimination in any form, it’s a good idea to consult an employment law attorney before taking any steps. Your lawyer can help protect your rights as you determine how best to address the situation.