Department of Fair Employment and Housing

California is the nation's third-largest state and its most populous. It's also arguably the most diverse in terms of its political and cultural perspectives.

California (by itself!) is the fifth largest economy in the world produces a fantastic variety of goods and services. The state boasts over 36.7 million residents, who work in thriving agriculture, aerospace, high-tech, and computing industries. Los Angeles, the second-largest U.S. city, has long been regarded as the "entertainment capital of the world." The state's ports, such as Long Beach, act as major hubs for cross-Pacific trade.

Yet as profound as California's economic potential may be, the state has been pummeled by budget crisis after budget crisis this past decade. In 2003, Gov. Gray Davis was ousted in a special election after he repeatedly failed to balance the budget. His successor, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (the movie-star-cum-moderate-Republican), has met with similar struggles over the state's fiscal future.

The state agency that deals with employment discrimination is the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). This department was created in 1959 to enforce anti-discrimination laws, provide resources to help crime victims, and otherwise advocate for California's defenseless. The DFEH currently operates under the umbrella of the California Consumer Services Agency.

The DFEH's raison d'etre is to enforce four key pieces of legislation: The California Family Rights Act (CFRA), the Ralph Civil Rights Act (RCRA), the Unruh Civil Rights Act (UCRA), and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (CFEHA).

California employment discrimination case decisions often "set the tone" for national legislation. For instance, the extended debate in 2008 over whether the state would pass Proposition 8 (rescinding gay marriage) impacted employment law across the country. Employers and employees alike watched keenly for clues about how the ever-shifting legal landscape with respect to gay marriage might impact on-the-job expectations. (For instance, would the passage/rejection of Prop 8 impact job-related health benefits?)

If you feel that your California employer has violated your rights, contact us immediately so that the attorneys here at Joseph, Herzfeld, Hester & Kirschenbaum LLP can help you get a just remedy.