In California, employers are prohibited from discriminating against workers and applicants for many reasons. They cannot discriminate because of sex, ethnicity, nation of origin or race. Another condition that is protected under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is...
Advocating For The Rights Of Southern California Employees Since 2007
Los Angeles Employment
Law Blog
The workplace and pregnancy
The government has established rules and regulations to protect the workforce against unfair treatment such as sexual harassment, racial discrimination and retaliation. There are classes of employees that the government aims to protect from abuse at the hands of an...
What should I know about meal periods and rest periods?
Did you know that, in the state of California, your employer is required to provide you with meal periods and rest periods over a certain number of hours worked? Many people who work in California are not aware of these laws, and, as a result, unscrupulous employers...
What is an adverse employment action?
As a California worker, you likely already know that if you report company misdeeds to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, your employer cannot retaliate against you in any manner. The 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title VII, grants you protection against such...
Sexual harassment: quid pro quo and hostile work environment
It is against federal law for anyone to sexually harass employees. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission explains that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment. Federal courts recognize two different types of...
In Rodriguez v. Nike Retail Services, Inc., the Ninth Circuit recognizes California’s strong requirement that all time worked must be compensated
In Rodriguez v. Nike Retail Services, Inc. (June 28, 2019), the Ninth Circuit reviewed a pair of federal trial court decisions that concluded that the time spent going through “bag checks” before leaving the stores, but after clocking out, was de minimis (too small)...
What is the law regarding overtime?
Each state sets its own rules about employment hours and pay. Since things are handled at the state level, it can get confusing if you are not originally from California or if you get incorrect information because you did not know this. California's overtime laws...
How do I know if I am an independent contractor or employee?
It is vital for your employer to properly classify you. If your employer falsely calls you an independent contractor when you actually meet the requirements of an employee, your employer is able to avoid complying with employment laws regarding the minimum wage,...
In Townley v. BJ’s Restaurants, Inc., the Court of Appeal Considers Whether Employer Must Reimburse Cost of Slip-Resistant Shoes
In Townley v. BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (pub. ord. July 8, 2019), the Court of Appeal considered whether summary judgment was properly entered for the employer in a lawsuit alleging violation of Labor Code Private Attorneys General Act of 2004 (Lab. Code, § 2698 et seq.; “PAGA”) for failure to reimburse employees for the cost of purchasing slip-resistant shoes.
Were you wrongfully terminated from your job?
Because California is an at-will employment state, your employer has the right to hire and fire individuals as it sees fit. However, there are instances when an employer conducts a firing in such a way that it violates state law. When this happens, the law refers to...