Pasadena Gender Discrimination Lawyer

Top-Rated Gender Discrimination Attorney In Pasadena, CA

No one should be treated unfairly at work because of their sex, gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Unfortunately, gender discrimination continues to affect employees across California in many forms, including harassment, unequal pay, and retaliation. If your employer has violated your rights to a fair and respectful workplace, you should work with a Pasadena gender discrimination lawyer who can help you file a claim.

Choose a Skilled Pasadena Employment Lawyer

With more than 25 years of experience, Esperanza Anderson has represented countless employees in discrimination claims against their employers. She provides direct, personal attention to each aspect of your case and works tirelessly to secure a fair outcome. Throughout her career, she has secured more than $15 million for her clients.

Esperanza Anderson is fluent in both English and Spanish, allowing her to provide clear guidance to a greater number of Pasadena Employees.

An Overview of Gender Discrimination at Work

Gender discrimination happens when an employee or job applicant is treated less favorably because of their sex, gender, gender expression, or a related protected characteristic. In 2024, 2,456 employment complaints regarding gender identity or expression and requesting to file a claim against the employer were filed with the California Civil Rights Department. Furthermore, only 35% of employees in the top 10 highest-paying occupations are women.

Some examples of how gender discrimination shows up in the workplace retaliation include:

• Unequal Pay: California employers are required to provide equal pay between men and women who perform similar duties and have similar experience. Yet, in California, women make about 88 cents per dollar that men make. Pay disparities can arise from discriminatory payment practices, biased performance evaluations, unequal promotions, or other forms of discrimination.
• Harassment: Gender-based harassment creates an intimidating or hostile work environment. Examples of harassment include unwanted sexual harassment advances, offensive jokes, inappropriate comments, or derogatory remarks about a person’s sex or gender. Harassment becomes a larger issue when an employer does not take steps to prevent this conduct, or it is so severe or pervasive enough to impact your comfort and safety at work.
• Differences in Employment Decisions: Gender discrimination can influence hiring, promotions, job assignments, discipline, scheduling, or termination decisions. However, employers cannot legally make employment decisions based on a person’s gender or assumptions about an employee’s abilities because of their gender.
• Retaliation: Retaliation involves an employer penalizing an employee for reporting gender discrimination, participating in workplace discrimination investigations, or filing complaints with government agencies. Retaliation can include many adverse actions, including demotions, reduced hours, negative evaluations, harassment, or wrongful termination.

Like other forms of discrimination, gender discrimination can happen anywhere. Whether you work for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Huntington Hospital, the City of Pasadena, or another employer, you have legal protections if you are experiencing discrimination.

Damages You Can Recover in a Gender Discrimination Claim

If you have experienced gender discrimination, you may be able to recover compensation for your personal and financial losses. The specific damages depend on the facts of your case and the harm you have suffered, but may include compensation for:

• Back pay
• Front pay
• Lost bonuses, commissions, or other benefits
• Emotional distress
• Attorney’s fees and court costs

A Pasadena gender discrimination lawyer can help you review your damages, calculate the financial value of your claim, and pursue compensation. Often, a lawyer is able to help you achieve a fair recovery by defending your right to compensation in negotiations or in court, even when your employer or other parties are attempting to avoid liability or decrease payouts.

Providing compensation for your damages is not the only example of gender discrimination penalties that your employer may face. Many employers are required to make company changes to better support the victims of gender discrimination and decrease the chance of future discrimination. This may include:

• Correcting discriminatory employment decisions through reinstatement, pay raises, or promotions
• Providing further training to current supervisors and employees
• Changing discriminatory company policies

FAQs

What Are the Gender Discrimination Laws?

There are several gender discrimination laws that protect Pasadena employees. One of the most significant protections is the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which is a state law that prohibits employers from using an employee’s or applicant’s gender to make decisions regarding hiring, promotions, pay, termination, and other similar decisions.

Another law is the California Fair Pay Act, which prohibits employers from paying employees who do similar work differently due to their sex or gender.

What Qualifies as Gender Discrimination?

Gender discrimination includes any behaviors that treat a job application or employee unfavorably because of their sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation. This is an illegal bias and should not be used when making employment decisions or to cause workplace harassment. If you are experiencing any unfair or negative treatment simply due to your gender, you should hire a gender discrimination lawyer to help you file a claim.

What Are the Four Types of Gender Discrimination?

The four main types of gender discrimination include direct discrimination, indirect disability discrimination, harassment, and victimization.

Direct discrimination means directly treating an individual poorly due to their gender, while indirect discrimination involves applying a rule or policy that unintentionally disadvantages employees of a certain gender. Harassment is unwanted behavior related to a person’s gender, such as bullying or negative comments. Finally, victimization involves treating someone poorly because they reported discrimination or participated in a complaint or investigation.

Is it Illegal to Refuse to Use an Employee’s Preferred Pronouns?

While it may not be illegal to accidentally use the wrong pronouns, repeatedly or intentionally refusing to use an employee’s preferred pronouns may be illegal. Pervasive misgendering can qualify as harassment and can contribute to a hostile work environment. If you believe that people are both intentionally and pervasively using incorrect pronouns, you should speak with your employer or a Pasadena gender discrimination attorney about your next steps.

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Hire a Gender Discrimination Lawyer Who Can Help

Despite strict laws that protect California employees, gender discrimination remains a pervasive issue in Pasadena workplaces. If you believe you are being discriminated against due to your gender, contact Esperanza Anderson to speak with a skilled Pasadena gender discrimination attorney.