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Workplace discrimination and harassment in Los Angeles, California

This page is for workers in Los Angeles who face discrimination, harassment or retaliation at work. It explains California's protections, the complaint process and the deadline, and links to licensed lawyers with labor and employment law on record.

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What California law prohibits[3]

California's Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits employment discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, reproductive health decisionmaking, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation and military or veteran status. It also prohibits retaliation for opposing these practices.

Which employers are covered[4][3]

The discrimination rules generally apply to employers with five or more employees. The ban on harassment applies to employers of any size.

Filing a complaint[1][2]

An employee must submit an intake form to the Civil Rights Department within three years of the date they were last harmed. To file their own lawsuit in court, the employee must first get a Right-to-Sue notice from the Department.

Steps to take[1]

  1. Write down what happened, when, and who saw it.
  2. Report harassment through your employer's process if it has one, and keep a copy.
  3. Submit an intake form to the Civil Rights Department, or talk with a lawyer about requesting a Right-to-Sue notice.

Lawyers in Los Angeles, California

The directory lists 9,698 lawyers with an active California license and an office of record in Los Angeles, California; 1,028 of them have Labor & Employment as a practice area on record (listed in the directory's source file; origin not confirmed, not a certification).

A license record shows a lawyer may practice. It does not show experience with a specific kind of case.

You can check any lawyer's license yourself with the State Bar of California lookup.

State Bar of California license lookup · Browse these lawyers in the directory

Questions

Do I have to complain to my employer first?[1]

No. You can file with the Civil Rights Department directly, though internal complaints can matter as evidence.

Is there a deadline?[1][2]

Three years from the date you were last harmed to submit the intake form.

Find a lawyer for this issue

You choose which lawyer to contact and what to share. Nothing you type is sent to a lawyer without your say-so.

Sources

  1. Filing a complaint, California Civil Rights Department (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
  2. California Government Code section 12960 (complaint deadline), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
  3. California Government Code section 12940 (unlawful employment practices), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.
  4. California Government Code section 12926 (definitions; employer), California Legislature (official). Checked 2026-10-30.

This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different. Check the official sources linked here and talk to a licensed lawyer about your facts.

Reviewed and last updated 2026-10-31. To report an error, write to notices@esqcopilot.com.