Proving workplace discrimination in California can be one of the most difficult steps in a successful discrimination case. It can also be complex, confusing and frustrating.
In these instances, you may be able to prove discrimination occurred against you if you can establish a verifiable pattern of various types of harassment happening on the job. These can include racist comments, sexually suggestive comments or emails directed at you, or other acts that could be deemed as harassment.
While similar in protecting against unjust discrimination, Section 1981 differs from Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
§ 1981 (Section 1981) bears the burden of initially pleading and ultimately proving that racial bias was the “but for” cause of the plaintiff's injury.
The employee must first present evidence that he is a member of a protected class, he was qualified for the position he held, he suffered an adverse employment action such as being fired, and that he was replaced with another worker who is not a member of that protected class.
Evidence in a discrimination case in California typically includes: emails, text messages, recordings, disciplinary forms, termination documents, or a copy of your employment contract if one exists. If you're like most Californians, you spend an inordinate amount of time at work.
Title VII is the federal employment statute prohibiting discrimination based on all protected classes, while Section 1981 only prohibits discrimination based on race and is not limited to the employment context.
§ 1981a(b)(3)) caps the amount of “compensatory damages awarded … for future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other nonpecuniary losses, and the amount of punitive damages” to between $50,000 and $300,000, depending on the size of the employer.
2001) (“Although claims against individual supervisors are not permitted under Title VII, this court has found individual liability under § 1981 when the defendants intentionally cause an infringement of rights protected by Section 1981, regardless of whether the employer may also be held liable."); Al-Khazraji v.
Also, Title VII applies only to employers with 15 or more employees, whereas Section 1981 imposes no such limitation. Employees cannot be sued under Title VII, but they can be sued under Section 1981.