$15.0M
Recovery for employees denied legally required meal and rest breaks.
Employment
California Employment Discrimination Lawyer
Were you treated unfairly at work because of who you are? At Wilshire Law Firm — an award-winning, nationally recognized team — our attorneys help California employees hold employers accountable and pursue compensation. Contact us 24/7 for a free case review with a legal professional — there are no fees unless you get paid.
- $3B+RECOVERED
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- 500+LEGAL PROFESSIONALS
Understanding Your Workplace Discrimination Case
Explore essential resources on your rights, your options, and what to expect — everything you need to navigate the legal process, all in one place.
Employment discrimination occurs when an employer treats you unfairly because of a legally protected characteristic. Under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA, Government Code §12900 et seq.), protected characteristics include race, color, national origin or ancestry, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age (40 and over), disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, and military or veteran status. Federal laws such as Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA provide additional protections. Discrimination can appear in hiring, firing, pay, promotions, job assignments, discipline, or the terms and conditions of employment. Learn more about your employee rights →
An employment discrimination lawyer can evaluate your situation, explain your rights, and build the strongest possible case on your behalf. Wilshire Law Firm is an award-winning, nationally recognized team that investigates what happened, gathers evidence such as emails, pay records, and witness statements, files the required administrative complaint, and represents you in negotiations or litigation. We handle every conversation with your employer and their lawyers so you can focus on moving forward. There are no fees unless you get paid.
Wilshire Law Firm handles the full range of workplace discrimination claims across California. These commonly include race and national origin discrimination, sex and gender discrimination, pregnancy discrimination, age discrimination, disability discrimination, and religious discrimination. Many discrimination cases also involve related conduct such as workplace harassment, sexual harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, or unequal pay. A legal professional can review which claims may apply to your situation during a free case review.
Employees who prove workplace discrimination in California can generally recover both economic and non-economic damages. These commonly include back pay and front pay (lost past and future wages), lost benefits, emotional distress damages, and, in cases of malicious or oppressive conduct, punitive damages. Courts may also order reinstatement and award attorneys' fees and costs to a prevailing employee. Because every case is unique, a legal professional can review your potential recovery during a free case review.
In most California discrimination cases you must first file an administrative complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD, formerly the DFEH), and you generally have three years from the date of the discriminatory act to do so. After the CRD issues a right-to-sue notice, you generally have one year to file a lawsuit. Federal claims through the EEOC have much shorter deadlines — often 300 days. Because missing a deadline can end your case, it's best to speak with a legal professional early.
Meet Our Workplace Discrimination Attorneys
Nationally-Recognized Powerhouse, Fighting for the Justice You Deserve
Our award-winning attorneys have recovered billions for clients while taking on insurance companies and major corporations.
John G. Yslas, Esq.Senior Partner, Chair of the Employment Wage & Hour Class Action Department
Mary Lee Caruso, Esq.Senior Partner
Tyler J. Woods, Esq.Senior Partner
Arrash Fattahi, Esq.Partner
Benjamin Haber, Esq.Partner
Nicol Hajjar, Esq.Partner
Diego Aviles, Esq.Junior Partner
Jeffrey Bils, Esq.Junior Partner
Emily Borman, Esq.Junior Partner
Jose Maria D. Patino, Jr., Esq.Junior Partner
Christina M. LeJunior Partner
William M. Pao, Esq.Junior Partner
Eugene Zinovyev, Esq.Junior Partner$12.0M
Recovery for employees denied legally required meal and rest breaks.
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Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and evaluated on its own facts.
How Do I Know If I Have an Employment Discrimination Claim in California?
You likely have a valid discrimination claim if you can show a protected characteristic, an adverse action, and a connection between the two. A protected characteristic is a trait covered by FEHA, such as race, sex, age, disability, religion, or pregnancy. An adverse action is harm like being fired, demoted, denied a promotion, or paid less. The connection is evidence that the protected trait was a substantial motivating reason for the action. California's filing deadlines apply, so contact Wilshire Law Firm's employment attorneys for a free case evaluation.
Start Your Free Workplace Discrimination Case Review
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Record breaking results
Winners of #1 Settlements in California
Our attorneys have recovered billions of dollars, including some of the biggest settlements in California.
17#1 Settlements in California, 2022–2024*
TopVerdict #1TopVerdict.com #1 settlements
1–1 of 17
#1 Truck v. Pedestrian Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Multi-Vehicle Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Equipment Malfunction Settlement
2024
#1 Car v. Stationary Object Collision Settlement
2024
#1 Bus v. Passenger Accident Settlement
2024
#1 Whistleblower Retaliation Settlement
2023
#1 Underinsured Motorist Settlement
2023
#1 Slip & Fall Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Negligent Security Settlement
2023
#1 Ladder Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Hotel Premises Liability Settlement
2023
#1 Car v. Car Collision Settlement
2023
#1 Bicycle Accident Settlement
2023
#1 Pregnancy Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Age/Disability Discrimination Settlement
2022
#1 Wrongful Termination Settlement
2022
#1 Meal & Rest Breaks Settlement
2022
*#1 settlements in California have been awarded by TopVerdict.com. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Workplace Discrimination FAQs
Our Most Frequently Asked Questions
We've answered the most common ones below. If yours isn't here, call us — we're available 24/7.
Employment discrimination happens when an employer treats you unfavorably because of a protected characteristic, such as race, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. Under FEHA, this can affect hiring, pay, promotions, discipline, or firing. The law generally applies to employers with five or more employees.
Usually yes. In most cases you must first file an administrative complaint with the California Civil Rights Department (or the federal EEOC) and obtain a right-to-sue notice before filing a lawsuit. This step is typically required for FEHA claims. An attorney can make sure your complaint is filed correctly and on time.
For FEHA claims, employees generally have three years from the discriminatory act to file with the California Civil Rights Department, and typically one year from the right-to-sue notice to file in court. Federal EEOC charges have much shorter windows. Because deadlines have exceptions, confirm yours promptly.
Discrimination is often proven with a combination of direct and circumstantial evidence. Helpful items include discriminatory comments, emails or texts, performance reviews, pay and promotion records, your personnel file, and statements from coworkers. Keeping dated notes of what happened can also strengthen your case.
In many cases, yes. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act protects employees of employers with 15 or more workers from discrimination based on protected traits. California's FEHA covers smaller employers and often provides broader remedies, so many workers can pursue claims under both.