Los Angeles Bona Fide Occupational Discrimination Lawyers

Bona Fide Occupational Qualification, or BFOQ, is a quality that employers are allowed to consider when hiring or firing an individual and that is legal in that particular situation only, and may be considered discriminatory in different circumstances. It is based upon the very specific criteria of the job in question and the nature of that job, and is only considered legal if certain personal qualifications are deemed necessary for that position.

Determining if Bona Fide Occupational Qualification is justified in a particular situation can be very difficult and it is necessary to have a legal professional help you through the process. Perry Smith, a Los Angeles bona fide occupational discrimination lawyer, can help you work through these complicated legal questions.

Examples of Legal Bona Fide Occupational Qualification

Based on the nature of the job in question, there are some situations in which it is appropriate for an employer to hire someone based on their age, religion, or other attributes that may otherwise make them guilty of discriminatory hiring or firing. Some examples to help illustrate this concept are:

• A Catholic Church that will only hire a Catholic priest
• A bus driving company that will only hire individuals old enough to comply with national age requirements for bus drivers
• A women’s lingerie company that places an advertisement for female models

In these situations, BFOQ protects the employer from facing discrimination lawsuits.

Abuses of the System

However, while there are some situations in which BFOQ is justified, many employers attempt to use this area of the law to justify blatantly discriminatory hiring or firing practices in circumstances where BFOQ does not apply. Los Angeles-based bona fide occupational discrimination lawyer Perry Smith can help you differentiate between lawful and unlawful uses of BFOQ.

If you or someone you know feels that they have been the victim of discriminatory hiring or firing, contact the Los Angeles bona fide occupational discrimination lawyer Perry Smith today at 888-356-2529 to discuss your legal rights and options.