Workplace Discrimination Lawyer in Palmdale

If you experienced workplace discrimination at a Palmdale 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 Discrimination in Palmdale

Workplace discrimination in Palmdale takes many forms: failure to hire, demotion, denial of promotion, unequal pay, harassment, denial of accommodation, and termination because of a worker's race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age (40 and over), pregnancy, disability, medical condition, marital status, military or veteran status, or genetic information. FEHA (Cal. Government Code section 12940) applies to Palmdale employers with 5 or more employees for discrimination claims and 1 or more for harassment. Federal Title VII (15+ employees), the ADA (15+), and the ADEA (20+) layer on top. Age discrimination is a recurring issue at the long-tenured aerospace employers at Air Force Plant 42.

Palmdale Industries Where Discrimination Claims Are Most Common

• Aerospace and defense workers - at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing operations on Air Force Plant 42. Age discrimination is a recurring issue; FEHA age claims (Cal. Government Code section 12940) and ADEA claims (29 U.S.C. section 626) apply.
• Healthcare workers - at Palmdale Regional Medical Center and Kaiser Permanente Antelope Valley. Common claims: pregnancy and disability discrimination, race and national-origin discrimination, accommodation denials.
• Public-sector workers - at the City of Palmdale, Palmdale Elementary School District, Antelope Valley Union High School District, and Antelope Valley College. Subject to the 6-month government-claim deadline under Cal. Government Code section 911.2.
• Education and charter-school workers - at the Palmdale Aerospace Academy and other Antelope Valley charter and district schools.
• Retail and restaurant workers - at the Antelope Valley Mall and along the Rancho Vista, Avenue S, and 10th Street West corridors. Fast-food workers at chains with 60+ national locations earn the $20/hour AB 1228 floor.

Palmdale Local Protections

Palmdale has no separate citywide anti-discrimination ordinance beyond California state law. Palmdale workers rely on FEHA (Cal. Government Code section 12940 et seq.) and federal Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA. California's Equal Pay Act (Labor Code section 1197.5) requires equal pay for substantially similar work regardless of sex, race, or ethnicity. SB 1162 (effective January 1, 2023) requires employers with 15+ employees to include pay scales in every job posting and employers with 100+ to file annual pay-data reports with the California Civil Rights Department. SB 642 (effective January 1, 2026) broadened the definition of "wages" under Labor Code section 1197.5.

California Law

For the full California framework, including FEHA, Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, equal pay, and pregnancy accommodation, see our California employment law page.

What Compensation Can You Recover

California does not cap FEHA damages. You may recover lost wages (back pay and front pay), emotional-distress damages, punitive damages (employer net-worth driven), and attorneys' fees and costs (Cal. Government Code section 12965(c)). For details, see our California employment law page.

How to File a Discrimination Claim in Palmdale

State FEHA charges go to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), 320 W. 4th Street, Suite 1000, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Federal charges go to the EEOC Los Angeles District Office, 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, serving Palmdale and the entire Antelope Valley). Wage claims can be filed with the California Labor Commissioner (DLSE Van Nuys, 6150 Van Nuys Boulevard, Room 206). Call us at 1-800-371-3088 before any deadline.