Los Angeles Disability Discrimination Lawyer: Know Your Rights at Work

TL;DR

Disability discrimination can affect your job in many ways. You may be denied a reasonable accommodation, treated unfairly, or punished because of a disability. In this article, we explain your rights under California and federal law and how a Los Angeles disability discrimination lawyer can help you understand what you can do.

You should not have to choose between your health and your job. Disability discrimination can happen when an employer treats a qualified employee unfairly because of a physical or mental disability. It can affect hiring, job duties, promotions, pay, discipline, or termination. It can also happen when an employer refuses to consider a reasonable accommodation. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects employees of covered employers from disability discrimination. The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) also protects workers who meet its requirements.

California law can provide broader protections in some areas. The California Civil Rights Department says FEHA generally covers employers with five or more employees. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we represent employees in Los Angeles County who are dealing with disability discrimination or problems with workplace accommodations. Our Los Angeles disability discrimination lawyers can review what happened and help you understand your legal options.

Disability discrimination is not always easy to spot. An employer may not say anything about your disability but may start treating you differently after you share your condition or ask for an accommodation. You may see changes in your job duties, discipline, work schedule, or other parts of your job. An employer may also refuse to consider an accommodation that you need to do your work. California law protects employees from discrimination based on physical or mental disabilities. It can also protect employees who have a history of a disability, are seen as having a disability, or have a close connection with someone who has a disability.

At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we look at what happened before and after the employment decision. For example, you may have good work reviews for years and then face discipline after asking for an accommodation. The timing does not prove discrimination by itself. But it can be one part of the facts that we look at when trying to understand what happened and whether your rights may have been violated.

A reasonable accommodation is a change that can help an employee do their job because of a disability. It may include a different work schedule, a change in job duties, medical leave, a different work area, or special equipment. In California, employers with five or more employees generally must provide reasonable accommodations for physical or mental disabilities unless the accommodation would cause an undue hardship. Employers must also talk with employees about possible accommodations when a request is made or when they become aware that an accommodation may be needed.

This does not mean an employer has to approve every request. The accommodation still needs to be reasonable, and the employer can consider whether it would cause an undue hardship. But an employer should not simply ignore the request. If your employer refuses to discuss possible options after you ask for an accommodation, a disability discrimination attorney Los Angeles employees can turn to can help you understand your rights. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we help employees with denied accommodations and other disability discrimination issues.

Getting fired soon after telling your employer about a disability can raise questions about why you were fired. The timing alone does not prove discrimination. It is important to look at what your employer knew, whether you asked for an accommodation, and what changed before the firing.

The EEOC’s FY2025 report found that disability was alleged in 35 of 94 merits lawsuits filed by the agency. Among those 35 cases, 24 involved reasonable accommodation claims and 21 involved discharge or constructive discharge. These numbers do not prove that every termination was discriminatory. They show that accommodation and termination were common issues in the EEOC’s disability cases. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we can review your records and the events leading up to your termination.

California complaint data gives us a look at how often disability issues come up at work. The California Civil Rights Department’s 2024 Annual Report recorded 14,430 disability-related bases among employment right-to-sue complaints. It also recorded 8,288 bases involving a requested or used disability-related accommodation.

For someone facing workplace disability discrimination, the facts of the case are important. Did you tell your employer about your disability? Did you ask for an accommodation? Did your employer discuss possible options with you? Did your treatment at work change after that? A California disability discrimination lawyer can look at these facts together and help you understand your rights. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we represent employees in disability discrimination cases throughout California.

Start by keeping your work records. Save emails, text messages, performance reviews, written warnings, accommodation requests, HR messages, schedules, and other documents related to your disability or work restrictions. It can also help to keep a simple list of important dates. Write down when you told your employer about your disability, when you asked for accommodation, what your employer said, and what happened after that. If you are disciplined or fired, keep any written reason your employer gives you.

You should also keep track of legal deadlines. In general, the California Civil Rights Department requires an employment discrimination complaint to be filed within three years of the date the discrimination happened. Other laws may have different deadlines. If you believe you are facing disability discrimination, speaking with a Los Angeles disability discrimination attorney can help you understand what rules may apply to your situation. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we can review what happened and explain the legal options that may be available.

Dealing with disability discrimination at work can leave you unsure about what to do next. You may have been denied an accommodation, treated differently after sharing your disability, or lost your job because of your condition. At Blair & Ramirez LLP, we can review what happened and help you understand whether your rights may have been violated. We represent employees in disability discrimination cases and other workplace claims.

If you believe your employer treated you unfairly because of a disability, you do not have to figure out your legal options on your own. Our disability rights lawyer Los Angeles team can review the facts of your case and explain what steps you may be able to take. Contact us here to speak with our team about your situation.

• Disability discrimination can happen in many ways.
• California protects workers with disabilities.
• Employers may have to provide reasonable accommodations.
• Keep records of disability-related workplace problems.
• Deadlines can apply to discrimination claims.
• Blair & Ramirez LLP represents employees in these cases.