Employment Laws That Prohibits Sex Discrimination in California
Workplaces in California may be diverse, but this does not mean sex discrimination is not prevalent in the state's employment sector. In fact, according to the Charge Statistics of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for the fiscal year 2012, the federal agency received a total of 2,036 sex discrimination charge filings in California.
Said figure accounted for nearly 28 percent of all charge filings in the state. However, the total sex charge filings for that fiscal year were higher than that of the previous one, in which the EEOC received only 1,925 filings for the fiscal year 2011. Given these statistics, it is safe to assume that sex discrimination is still a prevailing issue in the employment sector in California.
Thankfully, employees, as well as applicants, are protected by particular laws that prohibit acts of discrimination on the basis of their sex. In fact, here are some of the anti-sex discrimination laws that are currently being implemented in California:
€ Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Employers covered by this federal law are those with 15 or more employees. They are prohibited from discriminating against employees and jobseekers on the basis of their sex. Certain aspects of employment in which sex discrimination may occur include, but not limited to, the following:
- Termination;
- Demotion;
- Deprivation of benefits and other employment privileges;
- Deduction of salary or wages; and
- Denial of an applicant's application.
Title VII also prohibits covered employers from performing acts of sexual harassment on their employees or applicants. Since sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, every covered employer must make it a point to avoid a hostile working environment.
€ Equal Pay Act (EPA). This federal law instructs covered employers to provide equal amount of pay and compensation to all employees, regardless of sex, who have the same work skills, responsibility, and work conditions. Thus, it is illegal to use the individual's sex as basis for providing him or her specific amount of salary.
€ California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Just as it is with Title VII, the state's chief anti-discrimination statute prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace. Employers covered by this state employment and labor law are those with five employees or higher.
Individuals who have been subjected to sex discrimination may file a complaint with either the EEOC or with the state's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). Likewise, they may seek the legal expertise of the best employment lawyers.
Said figure accounted for nearly 28 percent of all charge filings in the state. However, the total sex charge filings for that fiscal year were higher than that of the previous one, in which the EEOC received only 1,925 filings for the fiscal year 2011. Given these statistics, it is safe to assume that sex discrimination is still a prevailing issue in the employment sector in California.
Thankfully, employees, as well as applicants, are protected by particular laws that prohibit acts of discrimination on the basis of their sex. In fact, here are some of the anti-sex discrimination laws that are currently being implemented in California:
€ Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Employers covered by this federal law are those with 15 or more employees. They are prohibited from discriminating against employees and jobseekers on the basis of their sex. Certain aspects of employment in which sex discrimination may occur include, but not limited to, the following:
- Termination;
- Demotion;
- Deprivation of benefits and other employment privileges;
- Deduction of salary or wages; and
- Denial of an applicant's application.
Title VII also prohibits covered employers from performing acts of sexual harassment on their employees or applicants. Since sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, every covered employer must make it a point to avoid a hostile working environment.
€ Equal Pay Act (EPA). This federal law instructs covered employers to provide equal amount of pay and compensation to all employees, regardless of sex, who have the same work skills, responsibility, and work conditions. Thus, it is illegal to use the individual's sex as basis for providing him or her specific amount of salary.
€ California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Just as it is with Title VII, the state's chief anti-discrimination statute prohibits sex discrimination in the workplace. Employers covered by this state employment and labor law are those with five employees or higher.
Individuals who have been subjected to sex discrimination may file a complaint with either the EEOC or with the state's Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). Likewise, they may seek the legal expertise of the best employment lawyers.
