Employees or job applicants in a protected class who suffer an “adverse employment action” — such as termination, demotion, a cut in pay or hours, not being promoted, a negative change in the terms and conditions of your employment, or another similar type of action — due to discrimination must prove that their protected class status was a “substantial factor” in the adverse employment action.
Both federal and California laws prohibit discrimination based on many important categories. In California, the laws prohibit workplace discrimination based on a person’s.
Under California law, employers may not discriminate against California employees based on the following protected categories:
Disability (mental and physical)
Age (40 and over)
Gender identity, gender expression
Ancestry, national origin
Medical condition
Marital status
Veteran status
Religion
Race, color
Sexual orientation
Sex or gender (including pregnancy, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions)