Should You File an Individual Employment Discrimination Lawsuit or a Class Action Lawsuit?

October 11, 2024

Being in a supervisory role brings out the worst in some people, and only some of their bad behavior meets the definition of employment discrimination.  Before you can file an employment discrimination lawsuit in court, you may have to first exhaust your administrative remedies by filing a claim with the EEOC or California Civil Rights Department.  Therefore, meeting with an EEOC counselor and telling him or her your story may be the first step to getting justice after employment discrimination.

After you contact the EEOC, they will investigate your workplace to determine whether your claims are credible and whether the mistreatment you allege qualifies as unlawful discrimination. In some cases, they may find that your employer has discriminated against other employees as well. Depending on how similar the claims are, the EEOC might even advise pursuing class action discrimination litigation instead of individual lawsuits. This means that instead of just one person suing an employer for discrimination at work, a group of employees can take collective legal action against the company. If you are wondering, “Can I sue my employer for discrimination?”, speaking with an employment discrimination lawyer will help you understand whether your case is best handled individually or as part of a larger action.

What If Your Horrible Boss Treated Other Employees Like Dirt, Too?

Some bosses are so popular with employees that you worry that no one will believe you if you complain about the boss’s discriminatory behavior. But if you speak up, you will probably eventually find that you are not alone.  A California city is facing four lawsuits stemming from discriminatory behavior by a city clerk who recently retired.  The four plaintiffs are three Black women and one woman with Japanese and Native American ancestry; all of them were at least 50 years old when the discriminatory actions began.

They allege that the clerk consistently treated White and Hispanic employees more favorably, while subjecting older workers and employees of other racial backgrounds to unfair treatment. Although she remained in her position into her 60s, she often pressured older employees to retire so younger workers could replace them. The lawsuits are clear examples of how suing an employer for discrimination at work may involve multiple protected categories such as race, age, and ancestry—and why class action cases sometimes arise when the mistreatment affects several employees in similar ways.

Speak With a Los Angeles Employment Discrimination Lawyer

A Los Angeles employment discrimination and retaliation lawyer can help you if a supervisor at your work has shown a pattern of treating employees unfairly based on race, age, or other protected characteristics. Whether you are considering filing an individual claim or joining others in class action discrimination litigation, the right attorney can explain your options and guide you through the process.

If you believe you have grounds for suing your employer for discrimination at work, do not wait. Contact Litigation, P.C. in Redondo Beach, California, to discuss your situation or call (424) 284-2401 for a confidential consultation.

Source:

sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/08/26/harassment-suit-against-longtime-san-diego-city-clerk-broken-into-4-cases/