Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment
California law provides strong protections against workplace discrimination and harassment. The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) enforces these protections
If someone has treated a worker unfairly or harassed the individual at work, the worker can file a complaint with the CRD. It’s illegal for employers to punish workers for filing a complaint.
File a complaint with the Civil Rights Department
- Protection from Workplace Discrimination
- Sexual Harassment Prevention
- Pregnancy Workplace Rights
- Bathroom and Sanitation Rights
- Equal Treatment for All Gender Identities
- Equal Pay for Equal Work
- Reasonable Accommodation
- How to File a Discrimination Complaint
- Protection from Retaliation
Protection from Workplace Discrimination
California law prohibits workplace discrimination based on protected characteristics including gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation, and other factors. Employers must provide equal opportunities for hiring, promotion, and job assignments.
Workplace Discrimination Information
Laws that Prohibit Retaliation and Discrimination
Sexual Harassment Prevention
Sexual harassment includes unwanted behavior based on sex, gender, pregnancy, or sexual orientation. Anyone can be harassed, regardless of gender.
Employers are responsible if supervisors or managers harass an employee. Employers must have programs to prevent harassment and stop it when it happens.
Sexual Harassment
California Law Prohibits Workplace Discrimination & Harrassment
Harassment Prevention Guide
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training – Landing page | CRD
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training: Information For Employers
Pregnancy Workplace Rights
Employers with five or more employees have obligations to their employees related to pregnancy and childbirth. If a worker is pregnant, has a pregnancy related condition or is recovering from childbirth, that worker has specific rights and protections.
Rights for Pregnant Workers
Lactation Accommodation Rights
Bathroom and Sanitation Facilities
Construction sites must provide adequate bathroom facilities and hand-washing stations. Employers cannot require workers, including apprentices, to travel unreasonable distances to use facilities, and facilities must be kept clean and stocked with supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions on Toilet Facilities
Toilets at Construction Jobsites
Sanitary Facilities Regulations
Equal Treatment for All Gender Identities
California law protects transgender and gender non-conforming workers from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation at work.
Rights for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Workers
Equal Pay for Equal Work
The California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying less than another employee of a different gender who does the same work.
California Equal Pay Act
Reasonable Accommodation
If an employer has five or more workers, they must provide reasonable accommodations for workers with physical or developmental disabilities, unless it would cause serious difficulty for the business. Accommodations can include changing job duties, providing medical leave, changing work schedules, relocating a work area, or providing equipment to help the worker to do their job.
Employers must work through an "interactive process" to find solutions when a worker asks for accommodations or when the employer become aware that the employee might need help. It's illegal for employers to refuse or to delay a request unreasonably.
Reasonable Accommodation Information
How to File a Discrimination Complaint
An employer cannot punish a worker for reporting discrimination, harassment, or other illegal activities. This includes firing, demoting, changing work schedules, or any other negative action taken because the worker spoke up about workplace problems.
When a worker files a discrimination complaint, CRD reviews the facts and decides whether to investigate the case. If CRD accepts the complaint, CRD independently investigates by reviewing evidence from both the employer and employee. CRD tries to resolve disputes when possible and may also take legal action if needed.
How to File a Discrimination Complaint
Retaliation
It is illegal for employers to retaliate against workers. This means a boss cannot punish or fire the complainant or co-workers for taking steps to enforce labor rights, such as reporting a labor law violation or a workplace safety hazard. If a worker files a wage claim or cooperates in an investigation and the employer fires the worker as a result, this may be retaliation.
The California Labor Commissioner's Office encourages individuals to file a retaliation complaint within six months of when it happened. In some cases, the Labor Commissioner's Office can help a worker to obtain any lost wages, as well as other payments and even the worker’s job.
Retaliation and Discrimination
How to File a Retaliation Complaint
September 2025