If you are an employee in the state of California, you have certain rights that are protected by law. Unfortunately, not all employers follow the law, and some may even try to take advantage of their employees. If you believe your rights have been violated, it is important to speak with an experienced Pomona employment lawyer who can help you understand your options and protect your rights.
At Eldessouky Law our employment attorneys understand the challenges of suffering from a Hostile Work Environment. Of course, not any conduct taken by someone will rise to the level of a hostile work environment. If you have been the victim of offensive or intimidating tactics by coworkers or if your employer has terminated you for speaking up, it is important to act quickly to protect your rights. With a free consultation we’ll be able to figure out what took place and if you have a case or not.
If you have questions about your rights as an employee in California or wish to discuss your case confidentially with one of our experienced California employment attorneys, contact our office at 714-409-8991 or fill out one of our contact forms online.
What is Hostile Work Environment in California?
CA law protects employees from a workplace that is harassing, offensive, unsafe, or unbearable. However, for these protections to apply certain conditions must be met. First the most immediate sign of a hostile work environment is when an individual is facing discrimination because of their protected class. Second, this discrimination usually will need to take place more than once or in a manner that is severe. One example are derogatory comments that are made multiple times towards an older employee, someone suffering from a disability, or race. Another example can be comments made towards an individual for engaging in a protected activity. This situation can arise when someone for example seeks pregnancy leave / baby bonding time, or any other form of medical leave and is then mistreated after.
Harassment or Discrimination directed at someone else.
You can still suffer from a Hostile Work Environment even if it directed at someone else. If certain conduct at workplace is found to violate the law and nothing is done about it, you may be working within a hostile work environment. One example of this can be the mistreatment of all females or people from a unique national origin / race. Seeing the mistreat of others is likely to affect how comfortable you are and willingness to complaint about unlawful activity. Placing such fear at the workplace violates public policy and various employee rights in CA. One of the biggest examples of harassment of others and the likely affect on other employees is Sexual Harassment. Continue reading below to see how this plays out.
Employment Lawyer Serving Pomona, CA: Eldessouky Law
With just over 150,000 people calling our sunny valley home, it is important that residents in Pomona have access to dependable advice from a Pomona employment law attorney. At Eldessouky Law, our commitment to protecting the rights of Pomona, CA residents is unmatched throughout the State of California. Our focus is on helping our residents attain maximum recovery by pursuing the best financial settlement or jury verdict available in their case.
For more than a decade,Pomona employment lawyer, Mohamed Eldessouky, has assisted our employees understand their rights and entitlements in the workplace. It is crucial to us that our hardworking employees are able to find the best and most fulfilling work, and also enjoy a workplace free from unlawful activity. If your employer is breaking the law, we can help you put a stop to the situation and recover the best financial outcome available for your circumstances.
Economy and Employment in Pomona, CA
Located in the Pomona Valley, sunny Pomona, CA is a family’s dream. With the low crime rate in the city, outdoor activity and entertainment are a part of our lifestyle. The city’s exceptional weather and temperate atmosphere are also why it is known as the “Queen of the Citrus Belt”.
Pomona, CA is the site of the Fairplex, which plays host to the Pomona Swap Meet & Classic Car Show and the LA County Fair.
The top employers in Pomona, CA are:
- Pomona Valley Medical Hospital: 3,230
- Pomona Unified School District: 3,034
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona: 2,440
- Fairplex: 1,071
- Casa Colina Rehabilitation Center: 1,020
- City of Pomona 661
- County of Los Angeles Department of Social Services: 350
How We Help People
No employee should feel unsafe in the workplace. At Eldessouky Law, we are committed to fighting aggressively for the rights of employees in the city. Our Pomona, CA employment law attorney understands that facing unlawful action at work can be hard, especially when you have spent years tirelessly developing a comfortable lifestyle that you deserve and are accustomed to.
When you are being mistreated at work based on factors that are illegal or discriminatory, we want to help you pursue the person or company responsible for the disturbance.
At Eldessouky Law, our employment law practice areas include:
- Hostile work environment
- Discrimination
- Sexual harassment
- Wage and hour claims
- Severance agreements
- Wrongful termination
Understand that it is never okay for you to feel unsafe at work. If your employer has applied different and discriminatory standards to you or routinely violates workplace policy, as set by the Labor Enforcement Task Force, call our Pomona labor attorney for help.
Hostile Work Environments Are Never Okay
If you are being subjected to wrongful behavior at work, you may be in ahostile work environment as described by the State of California Department of Justice. This includes behaviour that is:
- Intimidating
- Offensive
- Abusive
When this behavior is intentional, severe, recurring, pervasive and results in interference with your ability to do your job, you may have a claim for redress.
Sadly, when behavior of this nature occurs, the natural reaction is to either write the behavior off as “good natured ribbing” or tag the complainant as being overly sensitive. But that should not be the case.
If you are being made to endure consistent offensive acts that interfere with your ability to do your job, we will hold the at-fault party responsible for their actions and help you pursue the peace of mind and recovery you deserve.
Sexual Harassment is Never Okay
Sexual harassment is one of the factors that may create a hostile work environment. When it happens, it can be very embarrassing and disappointing for an employee. You worked hard to get where you are. You should not be made to suffer wrongful or adverse employment action because of unlawful sexual conduct from your employer.
Under California law, sexual harassment occurs when it involves:
- Unwanted sexual advances
- Physical abuse
- Inappropriate contact
- Crude remarks or jokes
- Inappropriate messages or comments, whether written or spoken
When sexual harassment becomes so frequent or pervasive that it compromises your ability to work, it creates an unlawful work environment. Hyams v. CVS Health Corporation, No. 18-cv-06271-PJH 2019 WL 6827292, at *5 (N.D. Cal., Dec. 12, 2019). Such conduct may also amount to gender discrimination when you are subjected to unequal treatment as a result.
You don’t have to wait for this to be the case though. You can file a claim for sexual harassment whether the unlawful conduct occurred from one action or several events. As soon as you suspect you are being made an object of unwanted sexual attention, you should speak to our Pomona sexual harassment attorney immediately.
We can help you enforce your rights against sexual harassment by showing that:
- You were an employee of the defendant
- You were subjected to unwanted harassing conduct because they were a woman, man or had other protected characteristics
- The harassing conduct was severe or pervasive
- A reasonable person in their circumstances would also have felt the workplace was hostile
- You considered the workplace to be abusive or hostile
- The employer defendant either personally engaged in the wrongful conduct or knew its agents or employees were carrying out that unlawful conduct and did nothing about it
- You suffered harm
- The wrongful conduct was a substantial factor contributing to the harm. California Jury Instructions CACI 2521a
Whether the unlawful conduct was obvious or subtle, we will help you determine how you were discriminated against or sexually harassed and enforce your rights on your behalf.
Contact Eldessouky Law for a No-Obligation Consultation Today
Contact Eldessouky Law to speak with our committed employment attorneys who can assist you. Call (714) 409-8991 to schedule a free consultation.
