Workplace harassment can take many forms, including sexual harassment, offensive comments or actions based on race, gender, age, disability, or religion. Any behavior that creates a hostile work environment or results in adverse job actions is unlawful.

Discrimination occurs when you are treated unfairly due to characteristics like race, gender, age, pregnancy, disability, or religion. If you’ve experienced negative actions such as being fired, demoted, or denied opportunities because of these factors, you may have a valid claim.

Retaliation happens when your employer punishes you for reporting discrimination, harassment, or other illegal activities. This could include being fired, demoted, or facing negative changes in your job duties.

No, it is illegal for your employer to fire you or take adverse actions against you for reporting harassment, discrimination, or other workplace misconduct. If this happens, it may be grounds for a retaliation claim.

Document everything and report the behavior to your HR department or supervisor. If your concerns are not addressed or you face retaliation, contact an employment lawyer to explore your legal options.

Federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) protect you from harassment and discrimination. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) also provides strong protections for employees.

There are strict deadlines, called statutes of limitations, for filing these claims. In California, for most discrimination and retaliation cases, you generally have one year from the incident to file with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). It’s best to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.

After filing a claim, your attorney will investigate the facts, gather evidence, and negotiate with your employer. If a resolution cannot be reached through settlement, your case may go to court where we will advocate on your behalf.

After filing a claim, your attorney will investigate the facts, gather evidence, and negotiate with your employer. If a resolution cannot be reached through settlement, your case may go to court where we will advocate on your behalf.

You may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, legal fees, and sometimes punitive damages if your employer’s actions were particularly harmful.

At Smith & Reback Law, we provide compassionate, expert representation for employees facing harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. We guide you through every step, from filing your claim to negotiating or litigating on your behalf, all with no upfront fees—you only pay when we win your case.

Generally, in wrongful termination cases, we can recover economic damages (back and front pay – i.e. the amount you have lost because you’ve been unable to work), emotional distress damages, reinstatement, and attorneys’ fees and costs.  For wage and hour cases, we can recover your unpaid wages, meal and rest period penalties, other Labor Code penalties, attorneys’ fees, and costs.

We understand that even talking to a lawyer is new for most people, and pursuing legal claims may seem anxiety-inducing.  But you are not alone.  We limit the number of clients we take, unlike most firms, so we could provide you individualized attention because every person and every case is different. You will be represented by compassionate attorneys who will guide you every step of the process.  We will explain step by step what we will be doing and you won’t feel like you’re being left out of the process.

Yes!  We are employment law experts who may be able to identify issues which non-legal eyes may not notice.

Yes! We represent employees throughout California. 

Your employer cannot retaliate against you for exercising your legal rights.  We can help protect you from losing your job.  Every person’s situation is different so we will provide you with individual, step-by-step instructions on what to do.

No.  For everyone’s health and safety because of Covid-19, it is unnecessary to physically meet with us. We are technology-forward and can do everything remotely, including client meetings, depositions, and mediations. We represent clients from all over California. 

Nope, it is completely free. 

Yes! You don’t have to pay us anything for our time or the costs we advance until we win.  We understand that most employees cannot pay for the best legal representation, especially after losing their job.  Financial concerns should be the last thing on your mind.