Losing a job can devastate an individual and/or an entire family. Some California residents may have known that the termination was coming because they just could not catch on the work, meet deadlines or otherwise meet the expectations of the job. In other cases, it seems to come out of nowhere, and the individual who lost the job may wonder whether it was wrongful termination.

If an employer violated federal or California law when letting someone go, legal options may be available to that individual. Discrimination is one of the laws that some employers violate when it comes to terminating someone. It is not enough for the employee to claim discrimination; rather, appropriate evidence must be documented, which can encompass a wide array of situations, comments, acts and more.

Over the last decade, the LGBTQ community here in California and across the country has battled to receive the same rights as everyone else. The rights to legally marry, to have children and to receive other benefits previously reserved for traditional couples gave this community hope that society has changed and become more tolerant. Unfortunately, instances of workplace discrimination do not always reflect the changes that have occurred.

Now, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on whether the LGBTQ community receives protected status under current civil rights laws. To this point, lower courts have not come to a consensus on the issue. This division has further complicated matters and delays people in this community from receiving much needed legal protections.

It is not uncommon for Long Beach employers to want to save money in order to increase their company's profits. One of the largest expenses of any business is its workers. Salaries, taxes and benefits can cost a significant amount of money. For this reason, some employers attempt to classify workers as independent contractors, which could give rise to wage and hour disputes.

Independent contractors do not receive benefits, and employers are not responsible for taxes and other expenses related to employees. This status also denies individuals certain legal protections enjoyed by those classified as employees. Many people actually meet the legal definition of an employee, but may not know it.

Most California residents need their jobs, but that does not mean they have to put up with certain behaviors. The law prohibits workplace discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Sadly, not every employer adheres to these laws and failing to do so tends to foster an atmosphere where multiple types of discrimination can occur.

For instance, a woman working in another state for a popular grocery store chain, Sprouts, filed a lawsuit against her former employer, alleging that she suffered from racial discrimination and sexual harassment. She claims that racial epithets were normal and management expressed a veiled desire to reduce the number of black employees in favor of white ones. She alleges that within a year of the woman working for the company, approximately 10 black workers were terminated.