February 9, 2016

Marital Status Discrimination

Marital Status Discrimination

Marital Status

Marital Status is defined by the Fair Employment and Housing Commission as “[a]n individual’s state of marriage, divorce or dissolution, separation, widowhood, annulment, or other marital state…”.


Employees in California are protected against discrimination and harassment on the basis of marital status under FEHA. Therefore, it is illegal for employers to discriminate or harass an employee because the individual is married, divorced, cohabiting, in a domestic partnership, or widowed, etc.


More Information

Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA):

The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, mental and physical disability, medical condition, age, pregnancy, denial of medical and family care leave, or pregnancy disability leave and/or retaliation for protesting illegal discrimination related to one of these categories, or for reporting patient abuse in tax supported institutions. You may file a private lawsuit under the Fair Employment & Housing Act.

-California DFEH


If you have any questions or if you believe your rights have been violated, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free consultation.