Failure to Hire

The hiring process is often a rigorous task for the employer and job candidate — it involves assessing resumes, conducting tests and interviews, verifying credentials, etc. Otherwise, when failure to hire proceeds as an illegal act of discrimination, the victim can take action against employers and the company to seek justice for the time invested in the process, money, and effort as punitive damages of the employment discrimination act.

Do you believe that you were not selected for a position due to a negligent or prejudicial action?

We can help you file a failure-to-hire claim.

Types Of Discrimination That Lead To Failure To Hire

Employers generally have the right to select who they wish to employ. However, according to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), it is unlawful for an employer to factor any of the following in an employment decision:

Age Discrimination – Hiring managers or employers refusing to hire someone because of their age.
Race Discrimination – Making assumptions about a candidate’s capabilities due to their race or ethnicity.
Disability Discrimination – Rejecting an applicant who has a disability, physical limitation, mental health, or medical condition that the employer perceives as interfering with job performance.
Sexual Orientation Discrimination – Refusing to consider an individual based on their sexual orientation.
Gender Discrimination – Choosing not to employ someone because of their gender identity or gender expression, rather than their qualifications and abilities for the position in question. Sex discrimination is an unlawful discrimination act.
Pregnancy or childbirth discrimination: Failing to hire a woman because she is pregnant or might become pregnant in the future.
Religion Discrimination – Discriminating against applicants because of religious beliefs or practices, such as clothing styles, holidays, and diet preferences.
National Origin Discrimination – Raising questions that could lead to potential discrimination toward a person from another part of the world such as language ability, accent, or name origin.

If you or someone you know has been discriminated against in a job interview or process, you may be able to file claims for failure to hire against the hiring manager or company who has violated the contracting laws in California.

Laws & Regulations Surrounding Hiring Practices

California is widely regarded as a trendsetter when it comes to employment laws and regulations. Its laws and regulations surrounding hiring practices are no exception.

As one of the most populous and economically significant states in the US, California has a unique labor market that demands specific protections for its workforce. The state’s hiring practices laws aim to ensure that job applicants are treated fairly and without discrimination.

California has several laws and regulations surrounding hiring practices, including:

Anti-Discrimination Laws

Employers in California are prohibited from discriminating against job applicants based on their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or pregnancy. This means that all aspects of employment, from hiring and promotions to training and termination, should be free of any biases. These protections ensure that individuals are evaluated based on their skills, qualifications, and experience rather than any irrelevant personal characteristics.

California Family Rights Act (CFRA)

Employers with 50 or more employees are required to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave per year for certain family or medical reasons, such as the birth or adoption of a child, or to care for a seriously ill family member. This is vital in ensuring that employees can attend to crucial family or medical matters without fear of losing their jobs.

Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)

FEHA is one of the most comprehensive state anti-discrimination laws in the country. It prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment and requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

California Equal Pay Act

The California Equal Pay Act requires employers to pay employees of the opposite sex the same wage for substantially similar work. It’s not just about gender; the law also addresses wage disparities based on race and ethnicity. To claim under this law, an employee doesn’t have to be in an identical job but one that is substantially similar in terms of skill, effort, and responsibility. Employers must be prepared to justify any pay disparities through factors like seniority, merit, or other bona fide factors.

California Labor Code

The California Labor Code contains provisions related to minimum wage, overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, and other employment-related issues. For instance, the Labor Code stipulates the state’s minimum wage, which employers must comply with and periodically gets updated. Additionally, the code details when and how employers should compensate for overtime work, as well as the right of employees to have designated meal and rest breaks during their shifts.

Reasonable employers in California are required to comply with these laws and regulations to ensure fair and equal hiring practices. If an employer failed to follow these laws and regulations, it is possible to file a failure to hire claim to obtain fair compensation.

Proving a Failure to Hire Claim

An employer who discriminates based on any of the protected categories can be held liable for damages to an applicant. This applies to hiring decisions as well as any other discriminatory conduct.

Claims for failure to hire are an allegation by a potential employee that they would have been hired or chosen but for the employer’s reliance on a protected category or a violation of anti-discrimination laws.

To prove a failure to hire claim, the applicant must first show that they had all of the qualifications necessary for the job. The employer must then demonstrate that there were legitimate reasons for not hiring the applicant. If no such reasons can be provided, then it is likely that discrimination was at work and an appropriate remedy could be awarded.

Proving a failure to hire claim can be difficult, but the law provides important protections for those who have experienced discrimination. If you believe that you have been subjected to discrimination when applying for a job, seek legal advice about your rights and options as soon as possible.

Damages and Remedies for Failure to Hire Claims

When an employer engages in a failure to hire discrimination, the impacted job applicant may have a legal claim for damages and remedies. Here are some potential damages and remedies:

Back Pay

The job applicant may be entitled to recover the wages they would have earned had they been hired for the position they applied for. Back pay also includes any benefits the job applicant would have been entitled to as an employee.

Front Pay

In cases where the employer’s discrimination caused the job applicant to miss out on future wages, the applicant may be entitled to front pay, which compensates for future lost wages.

Compensatory Damages

Job applicants may be entitled to recover damages for emotional distress or other harm caused by the employer’s discriminatory conduct. This means that they may be entitled to receive payment for pain and suffering, or any other mental anguish caused by the employer.

Punitive Damages

In cases where the employer’s conduct was particularly egregious, the job applicant may be entitled to punitive damages, which are intended to punish the employer and deter similar conduct in the future.

Injunctive Relief

In some cases, the job applicant may seek injunctive relief, such as an order requiring the employer to change its discriminatory hiring practices to prevent future discrimination.

It’s important to note that the specific damages and remedies available will depend on the facts of the case and the applicable law. To ensure that your legal rights are respected, and you have a valid failure to hire claim, it is necessary to have an experienced California employment law attorney by your side.

Your search for “the best employment lawyers near me” has ended! The Labor Law Advocates are here for you 24/7.

How Can Labor Law Advocates Help You?

As a professional law firm dedicated to upholding employment law in California, we can help you with your failure to hire claim in several ways, including:

Legal advice: We review and evaluate your case to provide you with the best legal advice. We will explain your legal rights and the options available to you, and advise you on the best course of action based on the facts of your case.
Investigating a case: We can investigate the circumstances of your failure to hire claim. We can help you gather evidence to support your claim, such as witness statements, hiring policies, and job postings.
Filing a complaint: As experienced employment discrimination lawyers, we can file a failure to hire discrimination claim on your behalf with the relevant authorities in California, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or California humans right agency.
Negotiating a settlement: We can negotiate a settlement with the employer on your behalf. As experienced employment attorneys, we can work to ensure that you receive the maximum financial payment for any losses or damages you have suffered as a result.
Representing you in court: If necessary, our expert employment lawyers can represent you in court. We can argue your case and present evidence to support your claim until you win.

We can provide the legal expertise and support you need to pursue a failure to hire claim and achieve a successful outcome.

We are available 24/7, and we speak English, Spanish, and Filipino. No fees until we win.

You are not alone! We can help you get the justice and maximum compensation you deserve.