Disability Discrimination Attorneys in Santa Ana
Were You Treated Different Because of Your Disability?
It can be incredibly stressful and hurtful when people treat you differently because of your disability, but it can take on a whole new level of pain when it happens at work. Despite federal and state laws that expressly forbid discrimination against people for their disabilities, it’s unfortunately common for employers to engage in such behavior. Some do so covertly while others may more brazenly violate your rights, but under no circumstances should you have to tolerate such behavior.
Since 1995, our attorneys at The Gould Law Firm have been advocates for people with disabilities when they’ve needed to legally confront their employers. We believe in preserving the dignity of all workers and forcing managers, business owners, and coworkers to answer for unlawful treatment of our clients. In cases like these, we can pursue fair and just compensation for our clients that can include damages for lost wages, compensatory damages, and even punitive damages in particularly egregious cases.
How to Identify Disability Discrimination at Work
Discrimination against a person with a disability can take on various forms at work. Some can be direct, while others may be more subtle or the result of poorly conceived company policies.
Here are a few considerations for how you can identify disability discrimination at work:
- Direct Behavior: Someone has treated you unfavorably and it is clear that it is because of your disability. This can amount to harassment in the form of inappropriate comments, use of slurs, jokes, bullying, and even physical violence.
- Indirect Behavior: Someone is choosing to enforce certain company policies that particularly affect you because of your disability; likewise, the polices themselves can be passively discriminatory.
- Victimization: You’ve experienced retaliation at work after complaining about a disability discrimination incident or company practice.
How to File a Disability Discrimination Claim
If you have experienced workplace disability discrimination, there are steps you can take to file a discrimination complaint. Here are the general steps to follow:
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Gather evidence: Collect any evidence that supports your disability discrimination claim, such as emails, performance evaluations, and witness statements. Make a note of any discriminatory incidents or situations.
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Follow your company policy: Make sure you are complying with your company's discrimination policy and following the correct procedure to report an incident of discrimination to your supervisor, HR representative, or someone else designated by your company.
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File a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) if you believe your employer has retaliated against you for reporting discrimination, or if your employer does not respond to your complaint. You can file a complaint online, by mail, or in person at an EEOC office.
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Stay up to date on the investigation: The EEOC will investigate your claim and determine if there is enough evidence to support your claim.
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Consider legal action: TheEEOC may file a lawsuit against an employer if a complaint of discrimination cannot be resolved through mediation. In the alternative, an employment attorney may be able to assist you with filing a lawsuit against your employer.
Contact Our Disability Discrimination Lawyer
If you’re unsure about something that happened at work, a disability discrimination attorney in Santa Ana can help you figure out if you may have a valid claim. During a free consultation with one of our lawyers at The Gould Law Firm, we can help you determine whether or not pursuing legal action is in your best interests.
We offer free consultations to all prospective clients, so contact The Gould Law Firm’s disability discrimination attorneys in Santa Ana today. Reach out to us online or call our number (714) 592-4936 for help from a lawyer near you!
Is Your Employer Providing Reasonable Accommodation?
When you require certain tools or adjustments to your workspace to perform work, you must inform your employer that you need a reasonable accommodation. Your boss is then obligated to provide such accommodation.
Reasonable accommodations can include:
- Readjustment of seating or floorplan to create adequate room for a wheelchair
- Ensuring accessibility to training manuals and programs
- Modifying equipment like computers or phones
- Modifying work schedules
- Making restrooms accessible to a person with a disability
- Reserving a parking space near the entrance of the building
These are not the only things you can ask for when you need reasonable accommodation to perform essential functions at work. The key word here is “reasonable,” and if an employer doesn’t believe something you need to do your job or feel more comfortable is reasonable, a disability discrimination attorney in Santa Ana can help you assert your rights.
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Large California Employer Violates Wage Laws $13,500,000
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Large National Bank Not Paying Overtime $7,900,000
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Employer Violating Wage Laws $6,700,000
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Large Restaurant Employer Violating Wage Laws $3,500,000
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Employees Not Receiving Overtime Working for Large Ice Cream Distributor $3,000,000
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Discrimination by Security Guard Company $2,000,000
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National Retail Store Violating Labor Laws $2,000,000
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Medical Workers Experience Unpaid off the Clock Wages $1,100,000
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Employee Terminated After Complaining About Workplace Discrimination $1,100,000
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Auto Parts Store Violating Labor Laws 1,000,000
Hold Your Employer Accountable
Don’t let your boss get away with mistreating you – you have rights, and The Gould Law Firm can help you assert them. No one deserves to be taken advantage of or have their dignity disregarded at work.
You can seek fair and just compensation for your employer’s unlawful behavior or policies by reaching out to us for help.
Contact The Gould Law Firm today and ask to claim a free initial consultation with one of our lawyers!
Thousands of Clients Helped
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“Amazing and strong law firm. Would highly recommend.”
- Angela C. -
“I want to thank Gould & Associates. There are no words for what they have done for me.”
- Lupe B. -
“I wanted to thank Gould & Associates for their assistance with my claim. They were of great help and were able to resolve the matter so quickly.”
- Charlie H. -
“Gould & Associates are an amazing team! From day one they were professional, honest & extremely knowledgeable! They were fast to respond to any questions or concerns I had!”
- Kristi G. -
“Mr. Gould was one lawyer I found through my search that wanted to help and was not asking for money before telling me about my options. This is a rarity these days!”
- Russell B.