As a worker in the State of California, you might already know it’s against the law for an employer to discriminate against you due to such factors as your gender, race, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, etc.
However, some Californians don’t realize it is also against
the law for an employer to discriminate against a worker due to their marital
status. This might at least be partially due to the fact that many workers
rarely stop to consider why an employer would consider their marital status to
ever be a relevant factor impacting their job performance in the first place.
Unfortunately, some employers do tend to give preferential
treatment to employees based on whether they are or are not married. If they
refuse to hire, terminate, or otherwise engage in acts of discrimination
against workers and candidates whose marital status does not correspond with
their preferences, the targets of their discrimination often have the option of
filing claims or lawsuits to seek compensation and/or reinstatement.
To better understand what marital status discrimination in the workplace might look like, consider the following examples:
1. Refusing to Hire Unmarried Employees
The reasons employers have for discriminating against certain
workers and candidates based on their marital status can vary on a case-by-case
basis. For instance, some employers believe that marriage provides stability in
someone’s life. That stability, in the minds of such employers, may translate
to superior performance at work.
Other employers also wish to ensure their workforce projects
a certain image that represents core values to their clients. Companies whose
workers are primarily married might, theoretically, appeal to a client with
traditional values.
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2. Firing an Employee for Getting Married
Just as there are some employers who prefer to hire married
workers, others look down upon marriage.
An employer might decide to fire someone for getting married if they feel that marriage will distract them from focusing on their career. Or, they may choose to fire a worker because of whom they got married to. An example would be an employee firing a worker who married a politician the employer does not support. Again, this is against the law.
3. Firing an Employee for Getting a Divorce
Another instance in which an employer might allow their
personal values and beliefs to unfairly impact how they treat their workers
could involve an employer firing or mistreating an employee who has gotten a
divorce.
That said, in all these potential scenarios, it would be
unlikely for an employer to openly admit to engaging in marital status
discrimination. They would more likely fabricate a reason for terminating or
choosing not to hire certain individuals to avoid admitting they’ve broken the
law.
Thus, if you believe an employer has discriminated against
you due to your marital status, consider that your odds of winning a case
should you take legal action will be much greater if you have representation
from a qualified lawyer.
That’s exactly what we offer at Marcarian Law Firm, Visit our website www.marcarianlaw.com
To learn more about what our Los Angeles discrimination Labor and
Employment Attorney can do for you, contact us online or call us at
818-995-8787.
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