Getting Justice With California Disability Discrimination Lawyers
Finding employment as a disabled person isn’t always easy. Physical and mental limitations can hold qualified candidates back from getting the role they dream of. In an ideal world, there would be no barriers and enough support to ensure that all workers get the same treatment. Sadly, that isn’t the case. Many find that once they manage to secure a job, they don’t get the same treatment as able-bodied workers and those without impairments. Disability discrimination can affect anyone with any form of disability. Any case, whether it’s mistreatment based on personal challenges or a lack of support for physical issues, is serious and deserves recognition. Those dealing with disability discrimination don’t have to take it as a normal part of working life. You can make a claim through disability discrimination lawyers and get compensation. Here are some of the different forms of discrimination you could claim for.
Different Forms Of Disability Discrimination
1) Firing or demoting you
Anyone can be fired from a role at a company with good reason. If you’re not fulfilling your role and not living up to the responsibilities of your job description, your boss has every right to let you go and find someone better suited. The same goes for anyone who is a liability or creates a negative work environment. However, too many disabled people lose their jobs because of their disability. The company probably won’t say that outright. Instead, they might insist that you were the first to go in a round of budget-cutting measures to reduce staff numbers. The code here is that it was too expensive to keep you on because of your needs. If you feel like you were an easy target and dismissed unfairly, you can make a claim.
2) Not giving you the same opportunities
Often, companies will keep their disabled workers on but not give them the same opportunities as other members of staff. Hiring someone with a disability may have been nothing but a box-ticking exercise to begin with. They needed to show some form of diversity, so made a point of bringing in a couple of people with physical or cognitive challenges. However, when it comes to career progression and allocating projects, those diverse hires end up at the back of the line. So, if you feel you have been unfairly passed over for promotion when you’re more than qualified for the role, it might be time to talk to a lawyer.
3) Not providing the right accommodations
This is something that many disabled workers will struggle with across different working environments. Companies must take care of their staff and give everyone what they need to work at the same level. For example, if you need an accessible desk in an accessible part of the building because of mobility issues, they need to be able to fulfill that. It also has to come out of their pocket, not yours. They should also be flexible when it comes to supporting the medical care needs of staff with serious conditions. This support also applies to people with learning disabilities and mental health diagnoses.
4) General harassment and abuse
There should be absolutely no room in any company for abuse and harassment of any kind. There may be other colleagues who don’t understand your condition and accidentally say something offensive, but in-house sensitivity training can help with that. Those who are deliberately hurtful and disparaging with ableist remarks should face severe consequences from management. Yet, there are times when it’s the management and higher-ups themselves that have outdated attitudes and look down on people with disabilities. This could be as direct as mocking or patronizing people with physical challenges. People with learning difficulties may end up infantilized. Even the act of dismissing mental health issues is a form of abuse. Depression, seasonal affective disorder, and anxiety disorders have to be treated with respect.
5) Not getting the job
Finally, there is the potential to bring forward a disability discrimination case against people who don’t hire you. This one can be a little tougher to prove. The HR department and management involved with the applications and interviews could simply say there were better people for the job. The problem comes when disabled applicants don’t get a response when they are obviously qualified because recruiters saw the disclosed disability. Some who make it to an interview stage can feel the dismissive atmosphere as soon as recruiters see the impact of a physical or cognitive disability.
Finding Disability Discrimination Lawyers
You should seek out California disibility discrimination lawyers. These experts can make a strong case in your defense and help you get the compensation you deserve. There are many skilled lawyers with experience in discrimination laws in California who understand the stress and pain disabled workers have to go through. Their hard work and compassion can help you obtain the compensation you deserve. It could even help you make significant changes within your workplace that will help future hires avoid the same problems.
Building a case isn’t always easy. It helps to compile as much evidence as possible to use against your employer or specific figures in the company. As mentioned before, this is a little difficult when you’re turned down for a role and have little to go on. However, claimants filing against a current employer can take the time to create a strong file of evidence. Every single email, memo, and letter can go into this case file. This creates a strong chronological outline of all the times employers were dismissive and held you back. It also has all the discriminatory language and questionable values in black and white.
Don’t Let Closed-Minded Employers Win
You don’t have to suffer in silence when facing discrimination. Keep a record of every word and action to use as evidence against your employer, and get in touch with experienced disability discrimination lawyers. Together, you can get justice and fight for a more equal and compassionate workplace. It’s worth the time and the risks if it allows for personal compensation and positive changes in the company.
Joshua White is a passionate and experienced website article writer with a keen eye for detail and a knack for crafting engaging content. With a background in journalism and digital marketing, Joshua brings a unique perspective to his writing, ensuring that each piece resonates with readers. His dedication to delivering high-quality, informative, and captivating articles has earned him a reputation for excellence in the industry. When he’s not writing, Joshua enjoys exploring new topics and staying up-to-date with the latest trends in content creation.
Author
Responses