Hostile Work Environment

A hostile work environment occurs when an employee experiences harassment or discrimination based on protected characteristics including sex, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or disability that is severe or pervasive enough to interfere with their job performance. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects employees from such environments.

Examples of a hostile work environment include sexually explicit jokes, unwanted comments about appearance, racial slurs, offensive symbols, or any persistent behavior creating an intimidating or abusive atmosphere. An employee must demonstrate that the harassment was based on a protected characteristic and significantly impacted their work environment. Even employees who witness harassing behavior, rather than being direct targets, may have grounds for a claim if it significantly affects their ability to work.

Employees suffering from a hostile work environment should document incidents and report them to their supervisor or human resources. Employees may also file a complaint with California’s Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) or the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

If you or someone you know is suffering from a hostile work environment, contact us immediately.

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Associate

Christine Reyes

Dedicated to Protecting Employee Rights

Christine Reyes is an Associate Attorney with PLG. Ms. Reyes represents employees in a wide range of employment matters, including wage and hour claims, wrongful termination, discrimination, and retaliation. With a strong legal background, Ms. Reyes previously represented plaintiffs in personal and catastrophic injury cases, gaining valuable experience that has shaped her approach in advocating for employees facing workplace injustices.

Before becoming an attorney, Ms. Reyes worked as a personal injury paralegal and legal assistant, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the litigation process from intake to trial preparation, to resolution. This experience gave Ms. Reyes a unique perspective on case management, strategy, and helping clients navigate the complexities of the legal system. Ms. Reyes provides effective, compassionate representation and is committed to fighting for the rights of employees.

Ms. Reyes attended the University of California, Santa Cruz and earned her law degree from Santa Clara University, School of Law. Ms. Reyes is licensed to practice law in all California State Courts and in the U.S. District Courts for the Central District of California. Ms. Reyes is fluent in Spanish.

Associate

SUSAN HUERTA

La abogada Huerta es abogada litigante en Protección En Acción. Licenciada como abogada desde 2008, tiene más de 16 años de experiencia legal lidiando con litigios laborales altamente complejos, demandas colectivas, y derechos civiles. Sirviendo a clientes en todo California, la abogada Huerta ha logrado un éxito significativo luchando por los derechos de los empleados que han sufrido graves violaciones de sus derechos, incluyendo discriminación, acoso, disputas de salarios y horas, despido injustificado y más. Una abogada altamente compasiva y agradable, la abogada Huerta realmente se preocupa por los problemas que enfrentan sus clientes y se ha ganado la reputación de ser una defensora incansable que persigue agresivamente los resultados más favorables en nombre de sus clientes. También comprende el estrés y la ansiedad que sienten sus clientes con respecto a sus situaciones, y brinda asesoramiento y apoyo dedicados y efectivos con el mayor cuidado y respeto para ayudarlos a obtener la justicia que merecen. Habla español con fluidez y puede comunicarse directamente con muchas personas que pueden tener dificultades para hablar inglés.

En 2020, la abogada Huerta fue seleccionada como Super Lawyers Rising Star. Ella practica en las áreas de Derecho Laboral y de Empleo, incluyendo Demandas Colectivas, Despido Injustificado, Discriminación, Acoso Sexual / Agresión Sexual, Contratación y Supervisión Negligente y Derechos Civiles. La abogada Huerta está autorizada para ejercer la abogacía en California, en el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Central y Norte de California y en el Tribunal de Apelaciones de los Estados Unidos para el 9º Circuito.

En su tiempo libre, la abogada Huerta brinda asistencia legal gratuita a mujeres maltratadas y niños inmigrantes no acompañados.

Associate

JEFFREY JIMENEZ

Dedicated to Protecting Employee Rights

Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez is a Junior Associate Attorney at Protection in Action. Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez is dedicated to ensuring that employee rights are protected in the workplace, specifically in collective and representative wage and hour actions. Attorney Jeffrey Jiménez has experience in other employment matters, such as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination cases. Before joining full time, he worked as a paralegal for Proteccion En Acción along with several other public organizations and private law firms in employment law, special education law, and immigration law.

Mr. Jiménez attended the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and received his PhD from Southwestern School of Law.

General Partner

CARLOS JIMENEZ

Extensive Experience and Knowledge

As a former partner and co-chair of his national class action practice group at a prominent employment defense firm, attorney Carlos Jiménez has extensive experience that he uses to benefit his clients. During his time as an employment defense attorney, Attorney Carlos Jiménez's practice focused on defending employers in California wage and hour class action lawsuits and PAGA matters, and he contributed to superior courts' efforts to streamline case management. class action lawsuit and PAGA. With this unique experience and knowledge, along with his extensive experience in state and federal courts, Attorney Carlos Jiménez is dedicated to preserving and protecting the rights of employees in the workplace.

Attorney Carlos Jiménez attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and received his Professional Doctorate from Loyola Law School. As a first-generation Mexican-American, Mr. Jiménez grew up in a blue-collar family and speaks fluent Spanish. Attorney Carlos Jiménez is admitted to practice law in all California state and federal courts and the California Court of Appeals.

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