Workplace Harassment Lawyer in Lancaster

If you experienced workplace harassment at a Lancaster workplace, you have strong protections under California law. We represent employees only, never employers, and offer a free, confidential consultation. 1-800-371-3088.

What Is Workplace Harassment in Lancaster

FEHA prohibits harassment in any Lancaster workplace based on any protected category - race, religion, disability, age (40+), national origin, ancestry, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, reproductive-health decision-making, and more (Cal. Government Code section 12940(j)). Under Cal. Government Code section 12940(j)(4), the harassment provisions apply to employers with one or more employees, much broader than the 5-employee threshold for discrimination claims (Cal. Government Code section 12926). To prove a hostile-work-environment claim under Jones v. The Lodge at Torrey Pines Partnership (2008) 42 Cal.4th 1158, you must show conduct that was based on a protected category, unwelcome, and either severe or pervasive enough to alter your working conditions. A single severe incident can satisfy the standard.

Lancaster Industries Where Harassment Claims Are Most Common

• Healthcare workers - at Antelope Valley Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley.
• Aerospace and defense workers - at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, NASA Armstrong, and Edwards Air Force Base (private-contractor staff covered by FEHA; federal-civilian staff route through the federal EEO process).
• Warehouse and distribution workers - at Rite Aid, Michaels, Sygma, and Lance Camper.
• Public-sector workers - at the City of Lancaster, AVUHSD, Lancaster SD, Antelope Valley College, and the Lancaster Sheriff Station.
• Restaurant, retail, and office workers - across Lancaster.

Lancaster Local Protections

Lancaster has no separate citywide harassment ordinance beyond California state law. Harassment in Lancaster is governed by FEHA (Cal. Government Code section 12940(j)) for any employer with 1+ employees and by federal Title VII for employers with 15+ employees. California also requires harassment-prevention training for all employees of companies with 5+ workers (Cal. Government Code section 12950.1). Hospital workers at Antelope Valley Medical Center who report harassment that also raises patient-safety concerns are protected by Health and Safety Code section 1278.5 ($25,000-per-violation civil penalty for retaliation).

California Law

Individual supervisors can be personally liable for FEHA harassment under Reno v. Baird (1998) 18 Cal.4th 640 (supervisors are not personally liable for discrimination, but they are for harassment). For the full California harassment framework, see our California employment law page.

What Compensation Can You Recover

California does not cap FEHA harassment damages. You may recover back pay, front pay, emotional-distress damages, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees and costs (Cal. Government Code section 12965(c)). SB 331 (Silenced No More Act) means severance agreements cannot bar you from discussing the harassment publicly. For details, see our California employment law page.

How to File a Workplace Harassment Claim in Lancaster

State FEHA charges go to the CRD, 320 W. 4th Street, Suite 1000, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Federal Title VII charges go to the EEOC, 255 East Temple Street, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Civil suits are heard at the Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse, 42011 4th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534 (the North District of the Los Angeles County Superior Court). Call us at 1-800-371-3088 before any deadline.