Riverside has grown from a city known for its citrus farming history into an important employment and business center in Southern California. Its location within the Inland Empire connects it to major transportation routes, commercial hubs, and surrounding cities. Today, the city supports a wide range of industries and a diverse workforce, where employees can face different challenges in their everyday working lives.
In some workplaces, employees do not always receive the respect and fair treatment they deserve. When workplace mistreatment becomes harassment, it can affect your health, income, and peace of mind. Speaking with a Riverside employment harassment lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and take the necessary steps to pursue compensation for your losses.
For employees that need legal support, Winer, Burritt, Scott & Jacobs, LLP helps pursue fair compensation by guiding them through every stage of a harassment claim. The firm reviews your case, gathers evidence, files with the appropriate agencies, negotiates with the employer, and takes the case to trial when necessary. It handles cases on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing upfront.
California provides stronger employee protections than other states
California has some of the strongest employee protection laws in the country, offering broader protections than federal laws in several areas. One of the key laws is the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), which prohibits workplace harassment based on protected characteristics such as sex, race, religion, age, disability, and more.
While federal laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act generally apply to employers with 15 or more employees, FEHA’s harassment protections apply even to employers with just one employee. This means employees working for smaller businesses in California also have legal protection against workplace harassment.
How Winer, Burritt, Scott & Jacobs, LLP helps employees pursue fair compensation
The law gives you the rights, but a skilled legal team turns those rights into fair compensation. Here is how the firm guides employees from the first call to settlement.
California law ⇌ their expertise + experience = Fair compensation
A free case review
Every case begins with a free consultation. The firm’s attorneys listen to what happened, explain whether the incident qualifies as harassment under California law, and discuss your legal options. They also evaluate what compensation you may be entitled to, so you know what to expect before moving forward.
Building strong evidence
Strong evidence is important for pursuing fair compensation. The firm’s attorneys collect dates, witness statements, emails, messages, and other records to support what happened and how the employer responded. They also examine whether the employer knew or should have known about the harassment but failed to act. Under FEHA, employers may be held liable for harassment by supervisors, co-workers, and even non-employees, depending on the facts of the case.
Filing claims on time
Missing a legal deadline can affect your ability to pursue compensation. Under FEHA, employees generally have three years from the date they experienced workplace harassment to file a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, although certain exceptions may change this deadline. The firm’s attorneys help employees complete CRD and EEOC filings within the applicable deadlines to protect their legal rights.
Negotiation and mediation
Many workplace harassment cases are settled before trial. The firm’s attorneys negotiate with employers and their lawyers to pursue fair compensation and use mediation when necessary. Their experience handling workplace harassment cases in Riverside help them identify the strengths of each case, address challenges during negotiations, and pursue settlements that reflect the employee’s actual losses. They also review severance agreements to ensure employees understand their full rights before signing.
Taking the case to trial
If the settlement offered by the employer is too low or does not reflect the employee’s actual losses, the firm is prepared to take the case to court and handle appeals when necessary. Having attorneys who are willing to go to trial can also strengthen an employee’s position during settlement negotiations.
Protection from retaliation
Many employees fear losing their jobs or facing unfair treatment if they report harassment. California law protects employees who report workplace harassment, and the firm’s attorneys help protect those rights by taking legal action against retaliation, such as demotion, reduced working hours, or termination. They can also pursue compensation for wrongful termination, denied bonuses, and other losses resulting from retaliation.
Key takeaways
- California’s FEHA protects employees from harassment, even in businesses with one employee.
- Winer, Burritt, Scott & Jacobs, LLP reviews harassment cases and explains legal rights and compensation options.
- The firm gathers evidence and files claim within legal deadlines.
- The attorneys negotiate fair settlements and go to trial when necessary.
- The firm helps employees take legal action against workplace retaliation.
