- Cohen & Marzban - / - Practice Areas - /practice-areas - Workplace Discrimination lazy 6f19f952-d3e4-49e7-a74f-dcb64b070586 # *Workplace Discrimination Attorney Los Angeles* Were you treated unfairly because of who you are? A workplace discrimination attorney in Los Angeles can help you fight back and demand accountability. We've recovered more than $2 billion for the people we represent. Put that record to work for you. Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Attorneys Today! ## Los Angeles Workplace Discrimination Attorneys Who Hold Employers Accountable Discrimination on the job does more than hurt a paycheck. It chips away at your dignity, your health, and your ability to provide for the people who depend on you. The problem is far from rare: the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [received 91,503 new charges of workplace discrimination in fiscal year 2025](https://www.eeoc.gov/data/enforcement-and-litigation-statistics-0), and California accounted for 5.4% of those charges nationwide, one of the highest shares of any state. At Cohen & Marzban, our seasoned employment litigators are ready to take on the corporations, human resources departments, and defense firms that too often protect the company instead of the worker. Our legal team pairs deep command of California employment law with a proven track record of results, and we use that combination to pursue the money and justice mistreated employees are owed. ## What Is Employment Discrimination Employment discrimination happens when an employer treats a worker or job applicant less favorably because of a legally protected trait rather than performance or qualifications. It can surface at any stage of the job, from hiring and pay to promotions, assignments, discipline, and firing. A knowledgeable employment attorney looks past the excuse an employer offers and focuses on the real reason behind the decision. Unlawful treatment is rarely labeled as bias. An employer usually offers a lawful-sounding reason, such as performance, budget cuts, or "fit", to cover a decision that was really about a protected trait. California law gives you the right to challenge that cover story, and we can explain what challenging it looks like in your situation. ## Workplace Discrimination vs. Harassment: What's the Difference People use these terms interchangeably, but they describe different wrongs that our attorneys often see overlap in one case. Discrimination is unequal treatment: a decision about who gets hired, paid, promoted, or fired based on a protected trait. Harassment is hostile conduct tied to that same trait, such as slurs, jokes, or advances that make the workplace abusive. The difference shapes what you must prove. A discrimination claim turns on a job action and the reason behind it, while a harassment claim turns on conduct so severe or pervasive that it alters your working conditions. Many employees face both, and we can pursue every claim the facts support. ## Signs You're Experiencing Workplace Discrimination Bias rarely announces itself, so it helps to know the warning signs our legal team looks for. If several of these patterns fit your situation, take a closer look: - **A pattern of being passed over.** Less-qualified coworkers keep landing the promotions, raises, or plum assignments you were in line for. - **Different rules for different people.** You're disciplined for conduct that others get away with, or held to standards that don't apply to your peers. - **Comments tied to who you are.** Remarks about your age, accent, religion, pregnancy, disability, or background creep into everyday conversation. - **Backlash after you spoke up.** Your treatment soured right after you reported bias, requested an accommodation, or asked about pay. - **Sudden changes to your record.** Years of solid reviews give way to a wave of write-ups with no real change in your work. - **Exclusion and isolation.** You're cut out of meetings, training, or communications that others in your role receive. None of these signs guarantees a claim on its own, but together they can point to unlawful treatment. Our team can review the facts and tell you where you stand. ## Common Types of Workplace Discrimination We Handle Bias takes many forms, and each category carries its own proof requirements and legal nuances. We stand up for employees in every protected class recognized under state and federal law, including the situations described below. ## Which California Laws Shield Employees from Workplace Discrimination California gives workers some of the strongest anti-discrimination protections in the country, layered on top of federal law. Knowing which statute applies to your situation shapes your deadlines, your remedies, and your strategy, and our legal team builds that roadmap for you from day one. ### The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) The [Fair Employment and Housing Act](https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/) is the backbone of state protection. It bars discrimination by employers with five or more workers and covers race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age (40+), disability, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, military status, and genetic information. FEHA reaches conduct that federal law sometimes misses. ### Title VII and Other Federal Protections Federal statutes such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act add another layer of coverage enforced through the EEOC. Many cases qualify under both systems, and we decide which path gives you the strongest position. ### Equal Pay and Related State Rules The California Equal Pay Act requires equal pay for substantially similar work regardless of sex, race, or ethnicity. Related rules protect against retaliation and require fair treatment during leave, giving us several tools to pursue full recovery. ## How Can I Prove Discrimination at Work Few employers admit bias out loud, so most cases are built from a mosaic of evidence rather than a single confession. We gather and connect that evidence to show what really drove the employer's decision. ### Direct Evidence Occasionally an employer leaves behind an email, text, or recorded remark that openly ties a decision to a protected trait. This kind of proof is powerful but uncommon, which is why the other categories matter so much. ### Circumstantial Evidence Most claims rest on patterns: shifting explanations for the same decision, discipline that lands harder on some workers than others, a paper trail that contradicts the company's story, or numbers that reveal a lopsided outcome. A skilled employment lawyer knows how to assemble these pieces into a persuasive whole. ### The Burden-Shifting Framework California courts often use a step-by-step framework in which you present enough facts to suggest discrimination, the employer offers a supposed reason, and you then show that reason is a pretext. We handle each stage and keep the pressure on the employer to explain itself. ## What Damages Can I Recover for Workplace Discrimination A successful claim can compensate you for real financial harm, and the personal toll bias takes on your life. Our workplace discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles pursue every category California law allows so you can move forward on solid footing. ## How Can a Los Angeles Workplace Discrimination Attorney Help with My Case Handling a discrimination claim alone against a well-resourced employer is an uneven fight. Our attorneys manage every stage so you can keep your focus on your health, your family, and your next opportunity. ### Investigation and Evidence Preservation We secure personnel files, internal messages, pay records, and witness accounts before they can vanish, then build a factual record that stands up to scrutiny. ### Administrative Filings We prepare and file the required complaints with the California Civil Rights Department or the EEOC and obtain the right-to-sue notice that clears the way for a lawsuit. ### Negotiation and Settlement Most claims resolve without trial. Our team knows how employers value cases and negotiates from a position of strength to secure a fair figure. ### Litigation and Trial When a company refuses to do right by you, we are prepared to take the matter to court, handling discovery, depositions, expert witnesses, and trial before a judge and jury. ## Employees We Stand Beside Discrimination reaches into every industry and pay grade. We represent hourly and salaried employees, professionals, and public-sector workers, including firefighters, law enforcement personnel, and other first responders who face on-the-job bias. Whatever your role, you deserve an advocate who takes your case as seriously as it demands. ### Race, Color, and National Origin Discrimination Treating a worker differently because of race, skin tone, ethnicity, ancestry, accent, or immigration background is illegal. This includes English-only rules that serve no business purpose and biased assumptions about who "fits" a role. ### Sex, Gender, and Pregnancy Discrimination Unequal treatment based on sex, gender identity, gender expression, or pregnancy violates the law. Denying a promotion to a new mother or pushing a pregnant employee out of a job are classic examples our attorneys see often. ### Age Discrimination Workers 40 and older are protected from being sidelined, demoted, or replaced in favor of younger staff. Comments about being "overqualified" or not a "culture fit" can mask age bias. ### Disability and Medical Condition Discrimination Employers must reasonably accommodate qualified workers with disabilities or medical conditions and cannot punish someone for requesting help. Refusing to engage in the required interactive process is itself a violation. ### Religious Discrimination Employees have the right to observe their faith, wear religious clothing, and request schedule accommodations without penalty. Harassment or forced assimilation because of religion is actionable. ### Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination California expressly shields LGBTQ+ workers from unfair treatment tied to who they are or whom they love. We can pursue claims involving demotions, exclusion, or termination rooted in this kind of bias. ‍ ### Economic Damages These repay measurable losses, such as: - Back pay for wages, bonuses, and benefits you lost - Front pay when returning to the job is not realistic - Lost retirement contributions, stock options, and health coverage - Job search and career retraining costs ### Non-Economic Damages These address harm that numbers alone cannot capture, including emotional distress, anxiety, depression, damage to your professional standing, and the loss of confidence that often follows sustained mistreatment. ### Punitive Damages and Statutory Remedies When an employer acts with malice or reckless disregard for the law, California permits punitive damages meant to punish the company and deter repeat conduct. FEHA also authorizes reinstatement, attorney's fees, and other remedies that we will pursue to maximize your total award. Available 24/7 ## Speak with a Workplace Discrimination Attorney in Los Angeles Today Not sure whether what happened to you crosses the legal line? One conversation with our employment attorneys can tell you where you stand and what your case may be worth. [Get a Free Consultation](https://losangelespersonalinjury.attorney/consultation) ## Treated Unfairly at Work? Get a Free, Confidential Case Review. Talk with a trusted employment attorney before a deadline passes or evidence disappears. [Free Consultation](https://losangelespersonalinjury.attorney/consultation) ## why us Why Choose Cohen & Marzban for Your Workplace Discrimination Claim Being singled out at work is not only a legal problem; it can shake your confidence, your sleep, and your sense of self. What sets our Los Angeles workplace discrimination lawyers apart is how we treat that human side of the case, not just the paperwork. - We See the Toll, Not Just the Claim - Discrimination often leaves people on edge, second-guessing themselves, and dreading each shift. We take that weight seriously, move at a pace that works for you, and can point you toward support resources so you carry less of it alone. - You're Heard and Believed from the First Call - Many clients come to us after being brushed off by HR or told they imagined it. We listen to your whole story without judgment, take your account seriously, and treat you as a person going through something hard, not a file number. - You Always Know Where Things Stand - You work directly with attorneys who return your calls, explain each step in plain language, and tell you the truth about your case, even when the news is not what you hoped to hear. - A Record That Speaks for Itself - Cohen & Marzban has recovered more than $2 billion for the clients we've served, and that track record shapes how employers respond when we get involved. - No Fees Unless We Win - We take these cases on contingency, so hiring us costs you nothing up front and you owe attorney's fees only if we secure a recovery for you. - Ready to Fight, and There When You Need Us - Employers bargain more seriously with a firm prepared to try the case in court, and when something urgent comes up, you reach a real person on your team, not a voicemail maze. ## our team Our Trusted Los Angeles Employment Attorneys [More About Us](https://losangelespersonalinjury.attorney/about-us) ## Our cases Our Case Results [View All Cases](https://losangelespersonalinjury.attorney/results) ## testimonials Client Testimonials & Reviews [View All Testimonials](https://losangelespersonalinjury.attorney/reviews) ## locations Areas We Serve From our base in Los Angeles, our workplace discrimination lawyers help employees across Los Angeles County and the surrounding region, including: - Downtown Los Angeles - Century City - Sherman Oaks - Van Nuys - Woodland Hills - Studio City - Torrance - El Segundo - Long Beach - Marina del Rey - Glendale - Burbank - Pasadena [714 W Olympic Blvd STE 631, Los Angeles, CA 90015, United States](https://maps.app.goo.gl/4tZzuCnAsaMXv4yE6) (213) 513-6701 - Downtown Los Angeles Office - Our downtown office serves the heart of the city, including communities like - Echo Park, Silver Lake, Koreatown, and Boyle Heights. [12121 Wilshire Blvd Suite 103, Los Angeles, CA 90025, United States](https://maps.app.goo.gl/SVXjRJmXJwZfTnnx6) (213) 682-3452 - Westside Los Angeles Office - From our Westside office, we help clients in - Santa Monica, Venice, Westwood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, and surrounding areas. [225 S Lake Ave STE 300, Pasadena, CA 91101, United States](https://maps.app.goo.gl/8mTZkfFFBE1yH5Jo8) (213) 325-1072 - Pasadena Office - Our Pasadena office works with clients in the - San Gabriel Valley, Altadena, Glendale, and Burbank. [16000 Ventura Blvd Suite 701, Encino, CA 91436, United States](https://maps.app.goo.gl/gdCeYzSo9Bkaghtd9) (213) 772-3952 - Encino Office - Our Encino office caters to clients in the - San Fernando Valley, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, North Hollywood, and nearby communities. [View All Locations](https://losangelespersonalinjury.attorney/locations) ## FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Under state law, you generally have three years from the discriminatory act to file with the California Civil Rights Department, then one year from your right-to-sue notice to file a lawsuit. The federal EEOC deadline is much shorter, typically 300 days, so contact a workplace discrimination attorney in Los Angeles early to protect your options. - How long do I have to file a workplace discrimination claim in Los Angeles? You can file on your own, but employers almost always have counsel, and the process has technical deadlines and proof rules. A skilled employment lawyer levels the field and helps you avoid mistakes that can sink an otherwise strong claim. - Do I need a lawyer to file a workplace discrimination claim? Our firm handles these cases on a contingency basis, which means you owe no attorney's fees unless we recover money for you. Your first consultation is free and confidential. - How much does it cost to hire a workplace discrimination attorney in Los Angeles? **No.** Retaliating against an employee for reporting bias, cooperating in an investigation, or requesting an accommodation is illegal on its own. If that happens to you, we can add a retaliation claim to your case. - Can I be fired for reporting discrimination? That uncertainty is exactly what a free consultation is for. Bring what you have, and we will tell you honestly whether the facts point to a viable claim. - What if I'm not sure my treatment counts as illegal discrimination? ## Contact Our Los Angeles Workplace Discrimination Attorneys Today Discrimination on the job can take your income, your career momentum, and your sense of security, but you don't have to accept it. Contact Cohen & Marzban for a free, confidential case review, and put a dedicated advocate to work fighting for every dollar you deserve. We're available 24/7, and you owe nothing unless we win. --- Cohen & Marzban — [https://losangelespersonalinjury.attorney/practice-areas/workplace-discrimination](https://losangelespersonalinjury.attorney/practice-areas/workplace-discrimination)