You Deserved Better. Let’s Make Them Pay.

You showed up every day and did your job. You hit your targets. You put in the hours. But none of that mattered—because your employer was too busy judging you for something else entirely.

Your age. Your race. Your gender. Your disability. Your pregnancy. Your religion.

They treated you differently because of who you are. They denied you opportunities. They made you feel like you didn’t belong. Maybe they even forced you out.

That’s discrimination. And in California, that’s illegal.

The California employment discrimination attorneys at Christopher Ellison Law don’t tolerate employers who discriminate. We expose them. We hold them accountable. We make them pay.

We represent discrimination victims throughout California, including Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County.

What Is Employment Discrimination?

Employment discrimination happens when your employer makes decisions about you—hiring, firing, promotions, pay, assignments—based on who you are rather than how you perform.

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act make this illegal. These laws apply to employers with five or more employees and protect both current workers and job applicants.

Discrimination can happen at any stage:

• During hiring (you weren’t selected because of your age or race)
• During employment (you were passed over for promotions others got)
• During termination (you were “laid off” while younger employees stayed)

The law is on your side. We’re here to enforce it.

Types of Discrimination We Fight

Age Discrimination

You have decades of experience. You’ve earned your position. But suddenly you’re being pushed out, passed over, or pressured to retire—all because someone decided you’re “too old.”

Age discrimination is illegal under both FEHA and the federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) for workers 40 and older. If your employer is targeting you because of your age, we’ll prove it and make them pay.

Age discrimination looks like:

• Being passed over for younger, less qualified candidates
• Comments about being “old school” or needing “fresh blood”
• Targeted for layoffs while younger workers stay
• Pressure to retire early
• Exclusion from training or advancement opportunities

Disability Discrimination

You have a disability. You can do your job—especially with reasonable accommodations. But your employer treats you like a liability instead of the asset you are.

California law requires employers to engage in an interactive process and provide reasonable accommodations unless it causes undue hardship. If your employer refused to accommodate you, failed to engage in good faith, or fired you because of your disability, that’s illegal discrimination.

Disability discrimination looks like:

• Refusal to provide reasonable accommodations
• Failure to engage in the interactive process
• Termination after disclosing a disability
• Demotion after requesting accommodations
• Harassment based on your condition

Pregnancy Discrimination

You announced you were pregnant. Suddenly, everything changed. Your employer started treating you differently, questioning your commitment, or finding reasons to push you out.

Pregnancy discrimination is illegal in California. You have the right to work while pregnant, take pregnancy leave, and return to your job afterward. If your employer violated these rights, we’ll hold them accountable.

Pregnancy discrimination looks like:

• Termination after announcing pregnancy
• Denial of pregnancy-related accommodations
• Failure to hold your job during leave
• Harassment about your pregnancy
• Demotion upon return from maternity leave

Race Discrimination

Your race, ethnicity, or skin color should never factor into employment decisions. If your employer treats you differently because of how you look, where you come from, or your ethnic background, that’s illegal race discrimination.

Race discrimination looks like:

• Being paid less than equally qualified workers of other races
• Passed over for promotions that went to less qualified candidates
• Subjected to racial slurs, jokes, or stereotypes
• Segregated into certain roles or departments
• Terminated while employees of other races are retained

Gender Discrimination

Whether you’re a woman being paid less than male colleagues, a man facing stereotypes about caregiving, or a transgender employee denied equal treatment, gender discrimination is illegal.

Gender discrimination looks like:

• Pay disparities between genders for equal work
• Promotion decisions based on gender stereotypes
• Harassment based on gender identity or expression
• Pregnancy-related discrimination
• Sexual harassment (quid pro quo or hostile environment)

Sexual Orientation & LGBTQ Discrimination

California law protects employees from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Your employer cannot treat you differently because of who you love or how you identify.

Religious Discrimination

You have the right to practice your faith. Your employer must accommodate religious observances unless it causes undue hardship. If you’ve been fired for taking religious holidays, prohibited from wearing religious attire, or harassed for your beliefs, that’s illegal.

National Origin Discrimination

Where you come from—or where your employer thinks you come from—cannot be used against you. Discrimination based on your country of origin, ethnicity, or accent is illegal under California and federal law.

How to Prove Workplace Discrimination

Proving discrimination isn’t always easy. Employers rarely admit their real reasons. That’s why you need attorneys who know how to build these cases.

The four elements of a discrimination claim:

• You’re a member of a protected class
• You were qualified for your position or performed your job well
• Your employer took adverse action against you
• The action was motivated by discriminatory reasons

We prove discrimination through:

• Direct evidence: Discriminatory statements, emails, or admissions
• Circumstantial evidence: Patterns of behavior, statistical disparities, pretextual explanations
• Comparator evidence: Similarly situated employees outside your protected class who were treated better
• Timing evidence: Adverse actions taken shortly after you revealed a protected characteristic

Your employer will have an excuse. We’ll prove it’s a lie.

Filing a Discrimination Complaint

Before you can sue for discrimination, you typically need to file an administrative complaint with either:

California Civil Rights Department (CRD):

• Enforces California’s FEHA
• Covers employers with 5+ employees
• Broader protections than federal law

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC):

• Enforces federal anti-discrimination laws
• Covers employers with 15+ employees (20+ for age)
• 180-300 day filing deadline

We handle the entire administrative process for you—filing the complaint, navigating the investigation, and obtaining your right to sue so we can take your employer to court.

Statute of Limitations for Discrimination Claims

Don’t wait. Your time is limited.

• EEOC Filing: 180-300 days from the discriminatory act
• CRD Filing: One year from the discriminatory act (extended to three years for harassment)
• Lawsuit After Right to Sue: One year from receiving notice

Every day you wait is a day closer to losing your right to sue. Call us now.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my employer claims they had a non-discriminatory reason?

They always do. “Performance issues.” “Restructuring.” “Not a good fit.” Our job is to prove these explanations are pretextual—cover stories for discrimination. We do this by showing the timing was suspicious, similarly situated employees were treated differently, or the explanation doesn’t match the evidence.

Can I sue if I wasn’t fired?

Yes. Discrimination claims don’t require termination. You can sue for denial of promotions, pay disparities, harassment, demotion, unfavorable assignments, or any other adverse employment action motivated by discrimination.

What compensation can I get for discrimination?

You may recover back pay, front pay, lost benefits, emotional distress damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. In some cases, reinstatement or a court order requiring the promotion you were denied is also possible.

What’s the difference between FEHA and Title VII?

FEHA is California’s anti-discrimination law and provides broader protections than federal Title VII. FEHA covers more employers (5+ employees vs. 15+), protects more categories, and often allows greater damages. We evaluate your case under both laws to maximize your recovery.

Can I be retaliated against for filing a discrimination complaint?

Retaliation for filing a discrimination complaint is illegal. If your employer punishes you for speaking up, you’ll have an additional retaliation claim on top of your discrimination claim.

Enough Is Enough. Let’s Fight Back.

You’ve spent too long being undervalued, overlooked, and mistreated because of who you are. Your employer chose to discriminate against you. Now you get to choose how they pay for it.

Christopher Ellison Law fights for discrimination victims throughout California. We don’t settle for less than you deserve, and we don’t back down from employers who think they can get away with illegal conduct.

What You Get With Us:

• Deep FEHA & Title VII Expertise – We know discrimination law inside and out
• Aggressive Litigation – We fight to win, not just to settle
• No Upfront Costs – You pay nothing unless we recover for you
• Statewide Representation – Serving all of California
• Personalized Attention – Your case matters to us

We serve clients throughout California, including Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, and San Diego County.

Christopher Ellison Law California Employment Discrimination Lawyer Serving All of California

Equal Treatment. Zealous Advocacy.