Los Angeles Disability Discrimination Lawyers

Los Angeles disability discrimination lawyers at Matern Law Group represent employees who have been treated unfairly at work due to a physical or mental disability. You have the right to equal treatment, reasonable accommodations, and protection from retaliation under California law.

Disability discrimination can occur at any stage of employment, from hiring and job assignments to promotions, medical leave, or termination. Even subtle actions, such as refusing accommodations or making assumptions about your ability to perform a job, may violate the law.

In Los Angeles, employees with disabilities have robust legal safeguards against discrimination in the workplace. These protections come from both federal and state laws, ensuring a comprehensive shield for qualified individuals. This guide explores the key elements of disability rights for employees in California.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is the primary federal law prohibiting disability discrimination in employment. It covers employers with 15 or more employees and defines a disability as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. California’s counterpart is the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).

When employers ignore their legal obligations, Los Angeles disability discrimination lawyers can step in to help protect your job, income, and legal rights.

Contact Matern Law Group by calling 310-987-4226 or submitting the form below to request a free case evaluation.

If you believe your employer has violated your rights, you do not have to navigate this process alone. Our team helps you understand your legal options and determine the most effective path forward based on your specific situation.

Key rights and protections under California’s FEHA:

• Protection Against Discrimination: Employers cannot discriminate in hiring, firing, promotion, training, pay, or job assignments.
• Reasonable Accommodation: Employers must engage in an interactive process to explore reasonable accommodations, and must provide employees reasonable accommodations for disabilities, unless doing so creates undue hardship to the business.
• Medical Inquiries: Employers are limited in when and how they may ask about medical conditions.
• Harassment: Disability-based harassment that creates a hostile work environment is illegal.
• Retaliation: You are protected from retaliation for asserting your rights or requesting accommodations.

If your employer fails to engage in good-faith discussions about accommodations or penalizes you for requesting them, that may form the basis of a legal claim.

Legal Remedies for Los Angeles Disability Discrimination

When Los Angeles employees with disabilities face discrimination, legal remedies may be available through the California Civil Rights Department (formerly the Department of Fair Employment and Housing). Filing a complaint initiates an investigation, which may include mediation or enforcement action.

Potential remedies may include reinstatement, back pay, compensation for emotional distress, policy changes, and attorney-guided resolution. Because California imposes a shorter statute of limitations for disability discrimination claims than the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission process under the ADA, taking action early is critical.

Consulting with an experienced employment attorney can help ensure your claim is properly evaluated, supported by evidence, and filed on time.