Northridge Sexual Orientation Discrimination Attorneys
Protecting LGBTQ+ Employees from Discrimination
California law prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on their sexual orientation. Employers cannot discriminate against employees based on their sexual orientation or their association with someone who is gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
Have you been the victim of sexual orientation discrimination? Contact K2 Employment Law at (800) 590-7674 to learn how we can help.
What Is Sexual Orientation Discrimination?
Sexual orientation discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee differently because of their sexual orientation. It can include subjecting an employee to a hostile work environment because of their sexual orientation.
Examples of sexual orientation discrimination include:
- Refusing to hire someone because they are gay, lesbian, or bisexual
- Demoting an employee because they are gay, lesbian, or bisexual
- Refusing to promote an employee because they are gay, lesbian, or bisexual
- Subjecting an employee to a hostile work environment because they are gay, lesbian, or bisexual
- Terminating an employee because they are gay, lesbian, or bisexual
It is important to note that California law also prohibits employers from discriminating against employees based on their perceived sexual orientation or their association with someone who is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. This means that an employer cannot discriminate against an employee because they believe the employee is gay, lesbian, or bisexual, even if the employee is not.
What Is a Hostile Work Environment?
A hostile work environment is a work environment that is so hostile that it affects an employee’s ability to do their job. In order to be considered a hostile work environment, the hostility must be based on the employee’s sexual orientation and it must be severe or pervasive. This means that a few offhand comments or isolated incidents are not enough to create a hostile work environment.
Examples of behavior that can create a hostile work environment include:
- Offensive jokes or comments about an employee’s sexual orientation
- Derogatory slurs
- Unwanted sexual advances
- Sexually suggestive comments or gestures
- Displaying sexually suggestive or explicit images
- Physical assault or threats of physical assault
What Is the Difference Between Sexual Orientation Discrimination and Gender Identity Discrimination?
Gender identity discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee differently because of their gender identity. An employer cannot treat an employee differently because they are transgender. They also cannot discriminate against an employee because they do not conform to traditional gender stereotypes.
For example, an employer cannot refuse to hire someone because they are transgender or because they are a man who wears makeup or a woman who does not wear makeup. An employer also cannot refuse to hire someone because they are a man who is attracted to other men or a woman who is attracted to other women.
Our Northridge Sexual Orientation Discrimination Lawyers
If you've been the victim of sexual orientation discrimination in your workplace, you need to seek the help of a Northridge sexual orientation discrimination attorney. At K2 Employment Law, our lawyers specialize in employment law and have extensive experience with handling discrimination cases.
Learn more about how we can help you by contacting us online or by calling (800) 590-7674 today!
