The employment laws in California protect employees from all kinds of discrimination, including racial discrimination in the workplace. The employer is legally obliged to ensure that all their employees can work in a safe environment and focus on their tasks without being subjected to racial discrimination. If you find yourself in a situation of racial discrimination, and your employer does nothing to prevent it, there are many competent racial discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles that you can turn to for legal advice.
What to do if you are involved in racial discrimination
Here are some suggestions about handling things if you face racial discrimination in your workplace:
Talk to the perpetrator
Some people may not realize they have said or done anything racist. You should remain calm and explain to them that you find their behavior offensive. It may improve the situation.
Gather evidence
Racial discrimination is a serious accusation that can affect people’s careers, so it is essential to have concrete evidence before you can take legal action against the perpetrator. You can keep a record of what the person said to you, when they said it, where they said it, and who was present when they said it. You can save any racist messages, images, or videos they send you. You can also record their phone and video calls or record them by audio or video when they address you in a racist way.
Inform your manager
Before escalating the issues, ask your manager to intervene in the matter. It is their job to step in and end racial discrimination. The action they take will depend on the severity of the issue. They reprimand the perpetrator, move them to another team, or ask you to file a formal complaint.
File a complaint with the HR department
If your manager fails to resolve the issue, you can file a formal racial discrimination complaint with your company’s human resources department. Find out what your company’s policy is about dealing with such incidents. Depending on your evidence, they may transfer or fire the perpetrator. If your employer fails to take appropriate action, you may need to approach one of the racial discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles.
Hire an employment discrimination lawyer
After exhausting all other options, you may have to take legal action against your employer to protect your legal workplace rights. While doing so can be traumatic for many people, please remember that the law is on your side, and you do not have to deal with unacceptable conduct from anybody. You can hire one of the racial discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles to represent you.
The lawyer will meet with your employer to find a resolution. If that does not work, they will file an administrative claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. They will assist the agency in its investigation. If the agency fails in the mediation, the lawyer will file a lawsuit against your employer within the stipulated period.