Discovery Bay Employment Attorneys

Your relationship with an employer or a potential employer should be a meaningful and fulfilling experience. This relationship is enhanced under the watchful eyes of the law, where you have certain rights that guarantee you will be treated fairly in the workplace.

However, despite these assurances, there are times when your employer will cross the line. State and federal laws prohibit employers from basing employment decisions on sex, gender, age, race, disability, sexual orientation and for reporting or refusing to participate in unlawful practices. When an employer violates these laws, causing you financial, emotional or physical harm, you have the recourse to seek compensation for any damages you have incurred.

At The Cartwright Law Firm, we can help you hold employers accountable for their actions. Our Discovery Bay Employment Law Attorneys will work closely with you, providing you with personalized guidance that allows you to stand up to employers who have mistreated you. With extensive case experience in this area, we can tackle the toughest cases that involve complex legal issues and strict deadlines. This includes substantial regulatory rules and guidelines that must be followed when dealing with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH).

Some of the more common employment issues we deal with include:

1. Employment Discrimination.  California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits an employer with 5 or more employees from discriminating against someone base on race, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or religion.  An employer cannot refuse to hire, discipline, fire, fail to promote, pay less or demote an employee based on these factors.  They may also not adopt a policy that has a negative impact on a protected class such as minorities or women.  When an overly ambitious affirmative action program is in place, FEHA  also protects employees from reverse discrimination against male or Caucasian employees.  Employees or applicants over 40 years of age are protected under employment discrimination laws.
2. At The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc., we also handle cases that violate the FEHA that protects employees who are disabled.  These types of cases are subject to an employer providing “reasonable accommodation” for the disability if necessary.  This may mean a modified work schedule, modified work duties, a brief period of time off or installing special devices that will help the employee in the performance of their job.
3. Sexual Harassment.  We have handled numerous cases involving sexual harassment in the workplace which is defined as any unwelcome sexual advance or conduct of a sexual nature that interferes with the performance of a person’s job.  Sexual harassment can range from unwelcome jokes of a sexual nature to inappropriate physical touching or any action or activity that creates a potentially intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment.  Employers with any number of employees are governed by the FEHA.  Employers with any amount of employees are governed by state and local laws.  In all cases, employers may be liable for compensatory damages and even punitive damages.
4. Wrongful Termination. We have seen many cases of employees who have been laid off or fired for an unlawful reason, opening the door for them to file a wrongful termination claim against their former employer. Wrongful termination is considered an illegal act if a person was fired in violation of anti-discrimination laws, as a form of sexual harassment, in retaliation for filing a complaint against an employer (known as being a whistleblower), or fired in violation of any oral or written agreements between the employee and the employer.

Our goal in all employment cases is to make sure our clients’ rights are protected and that they are fairly compensated for any employer-related damages that have taken place.

Our Discovery Bay Employment Law Attorneys are backed by 60 years of experience and are recognized as one of Northern California’s leading employment litigation firms. We take pride in our success, but we are just as proud of how we treat our clients, protecting their rights while we work through difficult legal situations.

If you have been the victim of an illegal employment action, contact The Cartwright Law Firm for a free consultation today. We represent clients throughout Northern California the greater Bay Area with offices in Discovery Bay, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and Vacaville.