Discrimination can also occur when someone is treated unfairly because they are thought to have a particular protected characteristic when in fact they do not. Workers cannot be discriminated against based on their protected classes, such as national origin, sex, gender, and race, among many others.Race, ethnicity, or national origin. Learn the essential steps to prove workplace discrimination in California. Here is how to identify the common signs of age discrimination in the workplace. Please contact us and book a free consultation with our lawyers today. Examples of National Origin Discrimination in the Workplace. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects employees against age discrimination if they are aged 40 or older. If your fellow co-worker is in the same position as you but gets paid more for essentially the same job then you may be a victim of discrimination. Discrimination includes unequal treatment, retaliation and harassment against employees and job applicants with disabilities.