People who work in California have a greater chance of having one or more protected characteristics than those in other states. In addition to federally protected characteristics like age, race, religion, gender and disability, California law specifies that it’s...
Employment Law
There are multiple ways for California workers to earn overtime
Businesses operating in California have to comply with federal and state wage laws. They have to pay at least minimum wage for all time worked. They must also provide appropriate overtime wages when necessary. Many wage and hour lawsuits begin with claims of unpaid...
How California law helps limit disability discrimination at work
There are numerous types of discrimination that professionals can face in their workplace. Some people face religious or racial discrimination. Others deal with unfair treatment on the basis of their sex or their age. Disability discrimination is also somewhat common....
Age discrimination at work and what you can do
Hitting a certain age in California's competitive job market can feel like suddenly becoming invisible. You've got the experience, the skills and the drive, yet you're fired or passed over for someone younger, perhaps even someone fresh out of college. Sound familiar?...
Can employers punish workers for discussing their wages?
Employers have an interest in keeping worker wages relatively low. Employees, on the other hand, want to connect with as much compensation as they can. The tension between these two priorities has led to the establishment of various state and federal employment...
When a layoff seems retaliatory
Layoffs or large-scale staffing reductions often occur due to necessity. As demand for goods or services declines, companies may have to scale back how many workers they have on the schedule. Some layoffs are temporary, meaning that the organization hopes to recall...
Can employers demand that workers do tasks on their days off?
Some California workers accept employment on a salary basis. They received the same amount of pay whether they work 35 hours or 48 hours on any given week. Many other employees receive hourly pay. Their wages fluctuate from week to week based on how much time they...
Progressive discipline can hide a wrongful termination
California is technically an at-will employment state. That essentially means that workers can quit with no notice, and employers can fire employees for no reason or any legal reason. That being said, wrongful termination is still a concern for many workers. Employers...
Can California employers enforce no-overtime policies?
Many employers implement workplace policies to limit operational expenses. For example, having a rule against overtime is relatively common. The organization may adopt a policy that requires management or corporate office approval before a worker can put in more than...
What determines whether someone is an employee or contractor?
The classification of a worker has many consequences for the individual and the company that either employs them or has contracted to benefit from their services. An employee has certain rights under the law that do not necessarily apply to an independent contractor....