Carney R. Shegerian, founder of GotFired.com and Shegerian & Associates, a Santa Monica-based law firm specializing in employee rights, has issued a statement commending California legislators working to pass a bill aimed at preventing discrimination against workers who are caregivers to children or other family members.

In a time when many people are raising children alone or with another full-time working spouse and/or caring for elderly parents, workers often need accommodations from employers, but businesses in California are not required to make these accommodations. Employees who say they have unsuccessfully sought to change their work schedules to handle their responsibilities, or been denied promotions because of these responsibilities say this is discrimination. However, unlike people who face discrimination based on race, gender or disability, they are not part of a protected class. The new proposed California legislation aims to change that.

“This Bill reflects an urgent need in today’s society and workplace and we applaud the lawmakers supporting it,” said Shegerian. “Currently, of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, only Connecticut and Washington, D.C., have legal protections for people with caregiver responsibilities, regardless of whether they involve children or adults. Discrimination against individuals who have that extra responsibility at home is a very serious issue today and we applaud the lawmakers attempting to help remedy the trend with important new legislation that would help California lead by example on this issue.”

New York is also considering a measure similar to the one proposed in California.

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