# California Work Harassment Law | Employee Rights Lawyer > Work harassment violates employee rights if the work harassment is the result of a protected characteristic, or qualifies as stress under the workers Source: https://worklawyerca.com/work-harassment-law/ Firm: Employment Lawyers Group — employee-side employment lawyers since 1993. Serving Los Angeles County, California. Phone: (818) 783-7300 (calling is the fastest way to reach the legal team) Office: 13418 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 Contact form: https://worklawyerca.com/contact/ Consultations are free and confidential; cases are taken on contingency. --- If you have been subjected to work harassment in the California workplace, **call (818) 783-7300**for a confidential conversation with an experienced work harassment lawyer. Work harassment violates employee rights if the work harassment is the result of a protected characteristic, or qualifies as stress under the workers compensation system. Work harassment laws can be found in the Fair Employment and Housing Act and the California Labor Code. **Work Harassment That Is Discriminatory** Work harassment due to any of the following protected characteristics is illegal, and is something a work harassment lawyer can assist you with: Age Discrimination, Disability Discrimination, California Family Rights Act Leaves also referred to as FMLA leaves of absence or CFRA leaves of absence, National Origin Discrimination, Pregnancy Discrimination, Race Discrimination, Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Orientation Discrimination. These forms of work harassment are called: age harassment, disability harassment, national origin harassment, pregnancy harassment, sexual harassment, and sexual orientation harassment (gay or sexual preference harassment). Work harassment cases based upon protected characteristics can be filed in the normal civil court system. The available damages are mental stress, lost wages, costs of therapy, and punitive damages. If the employee succeeds in a work harassment case regarding a protected characteristic such as sexual harassment or racial harassment the employer must pay their attorney fees and costs. Severe workplace retaliation may also be classified as work harassment. Retaliation against an employee who has blown the whistle and complained about an illegal employment practice may qualify for relief in the civil court system. ## Some Of Our Work Harassment Settlements: - **$333,437 present cash value for [pregnancy harassment](https://worklawyerca.com/pregnancy-discrimination-los-angeles/)** - **$225,000 for [sexual harassment by a customer](https://worklawyerca.com/sexual-harassment-by-customers/)** - **$200,000 for [sexual harassment by an executive](https://worklawyerca.com/sexual-harassment-lawyer-los-angeles/)** - **$170,423 present cash value for disability harassment** - **$150,000 for racial harassment** ### **Call (818) 783-7300** to find out if you have a valuable work harassment claim **What Qualifies As Work Stress?** - Has the stress resulted in permanent or temporary impairment? - Can it be proven that the cause of the stress was primarily work related (51% or more)? - Was the stress above the normal level for the position? - Were you employed in the job for six or more months? ### **Work stress claims under the workers compensation system often fall into the following categories:** - The worker was exposed to sudden and extraordinary events at the employer (a robbery while working) - Stress caused by physical violence at work - Stress caused by unlawful discrimination or harassment such as race discrimination or sexual harassment - Highly unusual work practices that are abusive. False imprisonment, severe threats including threats of violence, or stranding an employee in a distant location without a way to return might qualify If your work harassment case falls only under the workers compensation system, your employer must pay your legal fee. The legal fee for workers compensation cases is quite small, usually 10% or 12.5%. Workers compensation benefits for work harassment include pay for the period of time the employee is disabled due to the work harassment. This amount of pay can go back in time, into the future and/or paid out in a lump sum. * There is a $50,000 fine for filing a false workers compensation claim **Call (818) 783-7300 to find out if you have a work harassment case.** Our labor lawyers have been representing employees since 1993. Our work harassment cases are handled out of Bakersfield, Encino, Gardena, Hollywood, downtown Los Angeles, Oxnard, Riverside,[San Diego](https://sandiegoemployeelawyer.com), Sherman Oaks, and Tustin. ## Our Firm: No Upfront Fees or Costs ### Contingency Fee Representation All employment cases for employees are taken on a **contingency basis**. We are only paid a fee **when and if we win** your case, and we **advance all litigation costs**. Our goal is to make expert legal representation accessible to every hardworking employee. ### Serving Los Angeles County We have proudly served all of Los Angeles County since 1993. Ready to discuss your case? (818) 783-7300 Submit A Contact Form The Employment Lawyers Group has successfully handled 2,000+ Separate California Employment Cases ## Media Engagements ## Sample Case Results breach of commission contract $1,150,000 Unpaid commissions of two plaintiffs unpaid wages $875,000 For 4 oil field service industry workers whose times worked were not recorded on timesheets and were on-call forced to work without pay standby pay case $800,000 Controlled stand by class action settlement Disclaimer: These results are based on the facts of these specific cases and do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case. ## Practice Areas [Discrimination Age, Disability, FMLA/CFRA, Gender, National Origin, Pregnancy, Race, and Sexual Orientation discrimination claims.](https://worklawyerca.com/discrimination-attorney-8-facts-to-prove/) [Unpaid Wages & Overtime Recovering earnings for overtime, bonuses, commissions, meal & rest break violations, and prevailing wage claims.](https://worklawyerca.com/unpaid-wages-attorney-los-angeles/) [Sexual Harassment Compassionate and effective representation for sexual harassment and hostile work environment claims.](https://worklawyerca.com/sexual-harassment/) [Wrongful Termination Representing employees terminated in violation of public policy, contracts, or California and federal law.](https://worklawyerca.com/wrongful-termination-settlements/) [Leaves & Retaliation Protecting employees who face adverse actions after reporting illegal activity or taking protected medical leave.](https://worklawyerca.com/leave-of-absence-lawyer-los-angeles/) [Whistleblowers Advocating for employees who report fraud, waste, or abuse under California and federal whistleblower protection laws.](https://worklawyerca.com/los-angeles-whistle-blower-lawyer/) ## Our California Locations ### Bakersfield [BakersfieldLaborAttorney.com](https://bakersfieldlaborattorney.com) 5401 Business Park S, #214, Bakersfield CA 93309 [(661) 412-9600](tel:6614129600) ### Los Angeles [EmployeeLawCA.com](https://employeelawca.com/) 611 Wilshire Blvd, #1023, Los Angeles CA 90017 [(323) 525-1600](tel:3235251600) ### Orange County [WorkLawyerOC.com](https://worklawyeroc.com) 2522 Chambers Rd, #100, Tustin CA 92780 [(714) 210-8000](tel:7142108000) ### Riverside [RiversideEmploymentLawyer.com](https://riversideemploymentlawyer.com) 9496 Magnolia Ave, #208, Riverside CA 92503 [(951) 367-1000](tel:9513671000) ### Sacramento [SacramentoLaborAttorney.com](https://sacramentolaborattorney.com) 777 Campus Commons Rd, #200, Sacramento CA 95825 [(916) 340-0000](tel:9163400000) ### San Bernardino [EmploymentAttorneySanBernardino.com](https://employmentattorneysanbernardino.com) 337 N. Vineyard Ave, #400, Ontario CA 91764 [(909) 663-2100](tel:9096632100) ### San Diego [SanDiegoEmployeeLawyer.com](https://sandiegoemployeelawyer.com) 330 "A" St, #60, San Diego CA 92101 [(619) 320-3000](tel:6193203000) ### San Francisco / Bay Area [BayAreaEmploymentAttorney.net](https://bayareaemploymentattorney.net) 524 Union St, #400, San Francisco CA 94133 [(877) 525-0700](tel:8775250700) ### San Jose / Silicon Valley [SiValleyLaborLawyer.com](https://sivalleylaborlawyer.com) 111 N. Market St, #300, San Jose CA 95113 [(877) 525-0700](tel:8775250700) ### Sherman Oaks [WorkLawyerCA.com](https://worklawyerca.com) 13418 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks CA 91423 [(818) 783-7300](tel:8187837300) ### Torrance / South Bay [JobTerminationLaw.com](https://jobterminationlaw.com/) 3655 Torrance Blvd, 3rd Floor, Torrance CA 90503 [(310) 842-8600](tel:3108428600) ### Ventura / Oxnard [VenturaEmploymentLawyer.com](https://venturaemploymentlawyer.com) 4030 West Hemlock St, Oxnard CA 93035 [(805) 200-0100](tel:8052000100) ### Additional Sites [BostonLaborLaw.com](https://bostonlaborlaw.com) [DcLaborAttorney.com](https://dclaborattorney.com) [FresnoEmployeeLawyer.com](https://fresnoemployeelawyer.com) [JobLawyer.net](https://joblawyer.net) [MarylandLaborAttorney.com](https://marylandlaborattorney.com/) [ModemStud.com](https://modemstud.com) [VintageLosAngeles.org](https://vintagelosangeles.org) [WorkplaceLawyer.org](https://workplacelawyer.org) ## About Firm Founder, Karl Gerber Firm Founder, **Karl Gerber**, has been an employment and wrongful termination attorney since **1993**. He has represented a wide range of employees throughout California. Mr. Gerber has won **51 of the binding arbitrations and jury trials** he first chaired, and a number of his appeals are published. This deep trial experience is the foundation of the firm's strategic approach to litigation. The employment attorneys employed by the Employment Lawyers Group have worked at the firm well in excess of five years, have also tried many different labor cases, and have all been **extensively trained on employment and wrongful termination law by Karl Gerber**. [Meet Karl Gerber](https://worklawyerca.com/karl-gerber/) ## Ready to Discuss Your Case? Your rights as an employee matter. Submit a contact form and we'll get back to you. Submit A Contact Form [Call (818) 783-7300 Now](tel:8187837300)