Los Angeles Marital Status Discrimination Attorney

Marital and Family Status Discrimination: Your Rights in the California Workplace

In California, your personal life—whether you are married, single, or have children—should never be a barrier to your professional success. Unfortunately, many employees face family status discrimination, where they are penalized, denied promotions, or paid less simply because of their marital status.

If you believe your employer is treating you differently because of your life outside of work, the Mesriani Law Group is here to protect your career and your future.

What is Marital Status Discrimination?

Marital status discrimination occurs when an employer takes adverse action against you because you are married, single, divorced, widowed, or in a registered domestic partnership.

It also includes family status discrimination, where parents or caregivers are treated less favorably than employees without children. Common examples include:

• Refusing to hire an applicant because they have young children.

• Offering higher pay or better benefits only to single employees.

• Denying promotions to married employees under the assumption they are “less committed” to the role.

Legal Fact: Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), marital status is a protected characteristic. Your employer cannot legally use your relationship status to dictate your pay or position.

5 Warning Signs of Workplace Discrimination

Are you being targeted? Look for these red flags in your workplace:

1. Disparate Pay: You receive less compensation than coworkers in similar roles who have a different marital status.

2. Verbal Harassment: Your supervisor makes derogatory comments about your spouse, your children, or your choice to remain single.

3. Unfair Assignments: You are consistently given undesirable shifts or “dead-end” projects compared to your peers.

4. Promotional Barriers: You are passed over for advancement despite having better qualifications than a single or childless colleague.

5. Unequal Discipline: You are punished for minor infractions that are ignored when committed by others.

Your Legal Protections: State and Federal Law

You are protected by a powerful network of laws designed to ensure workplace equity.

California FEHA The Fair Employment and Housing Act strictly prohibits discrimination based on marital status for all California employers.

Title VII (Civil Rights Act) Federal law protecting employees from discrimination based on sex, which often includes “sex-plus” discrimination (such as bias against married women).

Equal Pay Act Ensures that marital status cannot be used as a justification for wage gaps between employees performing similar work.

Why You Should Not Fight This Alone

Facing off against an employer is intimidating. Corporations have deep pockets and veteran defense lawyers whose only job is to make your claim go away for as little money as possible.

Common risks of DIY legal action:

• Accidental Waivers: Signing documents that strip you of your right to sue.

• Technical Errors: Missing strict filing deadlines known as statutes of limitations.

• Low Settlements: Accepting a “nuisance” payment that doesn’t cover your true financial and emotional damages.

How Mesriani Law Group Can Help

Our Los Angeles-based firm features a team of elite discrimination attorneys. We have decades of experience winning cases involving marital and family status, pregnancy, sex, race, and religious bias.

We provide the resources and aggressive representation needed to level the playing field against unjust employers.

Take Action Today

If you feel your marital status is being used against you, don’t wait for the situation to get worse. You may be entitled to compensation for lost wages, emotional distress, and more.