California has been at the forefront of creating equal pay laws, working toward eliminating ethnic, racial, and gender disparities, and closing the gender wage gap. Recent legislation signed into law aims at bolstering pay equity and transparency laws. Pay equity…
If you have been wrongfully terminated from your job in San Bernardino, Riverside, or the Inland Empire after a work-related injury, you may have a legal claim against your employer. The law protects employees from discrimination based on their disability,…
In the fall of 2022, California Governor Newsom was busy passing several new laws affecting employers and employees, including Senate Bill (SB) 1044 regarding emergency conditions protections. The new law allows employees the freedom to take measures to ensure their…
In California, employers must pay their employees promptly all wages due for the time they worked. California has always led the way in employment legislation. Employment laws and the CA Labor Code protect workers’ rights to compensation. When employed in…
If you live and work in California and are arrested, your employer may learn about your legal matter. Employers are permitted to conduct background checks on job applicants and employees, which can include information about an individual’s criminal history. If…
Wrongful termination can be a devastating experience for employees, leaving them feeling powerless and uncertain about their future. If you believe you have been wrongfully terminated, it’s important to speak with a San Bernardino wrongful termination attorney who can help…
Job searching in California can be tricky for anyone. However, individuals on probation often encounter great difficulty finding jobs as they face additional hurdles than the average applicant. The job must meet the rules and restrictions of probation, allow for…
Employment disputes can be awkward and challenging, especially if you are unfamiliar with the legal system. As an employee, learning your rights is crucial to navigating a dispute with your employer. Serious conflicts in the workplace, between employer and employee,…
Speaking up after witnessing or suspecting inappropriate or fraudulent activity in your workspace can be particularly intimidating as an employee. It can often feel as though you are gambling with your job security and future for the greater good of…
If you ever find yourself contemplating legal action against your employer, it is very normal to feel intimidated. Typically, the legal and financial resources of an employer are far greater than that of an employee, which can make many employees…
California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 2188 (AB 2188) into law, which amends the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to prohibit employers from discriminating against employees or applicants for off-duty cannabis use that occurs away from the job…
California is ramping up to make significant changes to its consumer protection laws. Specifically, a new law will provide protections to employees who were previously exempted from such laws. Employers are expected to have policies and procedures in place before…
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1949 (AB 1949) into law, which modifies the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to provide eligible employees with up to five days of bereavement leave after the death of a family member. The law…
Generally, Californians are employed “at will,” which means they may stop working without notice, or their employer may fire or lay them off without explanation or notification. That doesn’t mean “wrongful termination” doesn’t exist. Wrongful termination occurs when your employer…
Despite some progress regarding awareness and LGBTQ rights, 2021 was one of the worst years for the LGBTQ community due to numerous legislative measures pursued by states across the country. There have been nearly 250 anti-LGBTQ bills filed in 2022,…
One of the most challenging career decisions you can make is the decision to expose wrongdoing at your place of work. It’s natural to wonder whether the price of doing the “right thing” can cost your career. The good news…
On January 1, 2020, California’s new labor law AB 5 took effect, providing minimum wage protections to some, but not all, freelance workers. A freelance worker must be paid minimum wages when classified as a “full-time employee” under California law.…
“Locker room talk” is a phrase we’ve all heard at some point in our lives. It’s meant to describe words, expressions, and behavior that are typically associated with men. The idea is that when men are among themselves and behind…
The Gig economy is flourishing in California, with millions of independent contractors and approximately 23.9 million across the US reported in 2021, a staggering 85.3% increase since 2017. The advantages of being an independent contractor can be incredibly enticing; becoming…
Under Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, employers are required to treat employees equally and not discriminate against employees based on their status of being a member of a protected class. U.S. workers are also protected against discrimination…
Anxiety may be an invisible ailment, but those who suffer with anxiety disorders know that it can often feel more debilitating than other more physically visible disabilities. When leaving your home or even getting out of bed is a great…
Experiencing discrimination or harassment in the workplace can have a devasting impact on an individual’s job performance, confidence, and even mental health. Most full-time working Americans spend more daytime hours with their coworkers than their own family members, so when…
Milestones are an integral component of our lives, and the birth of a child is among the most precious and significant. The first year of a child’s life is filled with memorable landmarks that, as parents, we want to treasure,…
Are you an employee or employer in the Golden State? If so, listen up; updated minimum wage requirements went into effect this year, and more changes are coming. California employees are entitled to and should always receive fair wages. Unfortunately,…
California is a highly competitive state which can be a struggle for employers and employees, particularly for an employee who has moved on to a new position. Common employer concerns at such a junction involve former employees divulging information they…
Pregnancy is not only the gift of giving life but a critical part of the circle of life. Despite this, many employers fire pregnant employees, even as soon as the day she announces her pregnancy. According to a recent analysis…
The Equal Pay Act (EPA) passed in The Golden State for the first time during the 1940s. Former California Governor Jerry Brown updated the EPA and expanded it by providing the California Fair Pay Act (FPA) in 2015, which empowered…
Senate Bill 331 (SB 331, also called the “Silenced No More Act”) went into effect at the hand of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who signed it into effect during the latter half of 2021. The Bill furthered and substantiated expansions…
The last thing anybody wants to think about when coming to a hospital is getting worse, not better, mainly due to hospital-acquired infection. Not only are hospital-acquired infections common, but they are on the rise in many states across the…
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 50% of drivers killed in motor vehicle collisions in 2019 tested positive for legal or illegal drugs, an 8% upsurge from the previous year. Recent studies have revealed an overall increase…
Have you been the victim of “quid pro quo” sexual harassment at your workplace? You are not alone; unfortunately, tens of thousands of Americans encounter and report incidents of sexual harassment at their jobs each year. Quid Pro Quo sexual…
On Thursday, April 7th, 2022, a U.S. appeals court panel reinstated an executive order under President Joe Biden mandating Covid-19 vaccinations for all federal employees. The federal appeals court overturned a lower court’s nationwide respite, which had been in effect…
The labor market has been transforming over the last decade in the US. However, that change was meaningfully impacted and accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, related work-from-home orders, and thousands of workers who found themselves laid off at the start…
You may be wondering whether an employer can change your job duties. Have you been employed for some time, and now your employer wants to change your work responsibilities in a way that makes you question their intent? Perhaps they’re…
Remote working pre-pandemic was often a practice for office bosses, business owners, and solo entrepreneurs, but then came the Covid-19 pandemic, influencing and modifying nearly every aspect of our society, most notably the workplace. The Public Policy Institute of California…
As a result of Gov. Newsom’s signing of new protections into law, under Senate Bill 114 ( specifically SB 114’s new Labor Code section 248.6), on Wednesday, tens of thousands of California workers will now have access to Covid-19 supplemental…
California defines hostile work environments as those in which inappropriate behavior is prevalent or severe enough to produce a hostile work environment for one or more employees. According to the Fair Employment and Housing Act, this type of harassment, workplace…
If you’re involved in a lawsuit, such as a personal injury case, you may arrive at a crucial decision: Should I accept a settlement offer or go to trial? Before arriving at this pivotal moment, you must make certain you…
According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 5 million car accidents occur annually, resulting in 3 million injuries. According to a statistical projection from NHTSA, in the first quarter of 2021, an estimated 8,730 people died in motor…
At SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation, We Get Results! With over 50 years of combined legal experience, our attorneys have taken hundreds of cases to trial or mediation. We have an extraordinarily high success rate in court and…
The Private Attorneys General Act, or PAGA, was designed by state legislators offering financial incentives to individuals seeking to enforce state labor laws. When SB 796 passed in 2003, the State of California did not have sufficient resources to keep…
On Thursday, January 14, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling on two cases that challenged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ‘s authority to make a vaccine-or-test mandate for private employees and healthcare workers. In a 6-3…
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, known as OSHA, issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to minimize the risk of COVID-19 spread in the workplace. The ETS requires employers with 100 employees or more to establish a vaccination policy. The…
Are you job hunting in California? You don’t have to worry about a credit check for most jobs, but it’s good to know the applicable rules and laws and requirements an employer must meet should they wish to request your…
Have you been missing meal breaks or rest breaks at work? Compliance with meal and rest break laws remains a significant source of litigation for California employers. California employees and employers must understand the laws regarding meal and rest breaks.…
If you believe your employer is subjecting you to an unreasonable invasion of privacy in your workplace, a lawsuit against your employer may be the most effective means of justice. Employers should refrain from unreasonable surveillance methods and aim to…
Many employers are starting to require their workers to get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus (Sars CoV2), more commonly known as Covid-19. As of now, the alternative appears to be subjecting employees to Covid-19 testing on an ongoing basis. Weekly…
California has become the first state to protect warehouse workers at warehouse distribution centers. Assembly Bill 701 was introduced by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Deigo) and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom into law on September 22, 2021. However, the law…
Many Californians find themselves wanting to quit their jobs. Not all reasons to quit are legally actionable. Yet, some circumstances may be considered termination. When work conditions become unbearable, harsh, or intolerable, and you quit, it may be considered a…
There are two legally recognized exemptions from mandatory COVID-19 vaccine requirements. These exemptions include disability-related reasons and sincerely held religious beliefs. If your employer requires the COVID-19 vaccine for employees returning to the office, continue reading to learn about how…
The right to privacy in California is one of the most important legal rights that residents have. California even provides greater privacy protections to its residents than the federal government offers. In fact, California employees benefit from some of the…
Many employers retain a third-party consumer reporting agency, also known as a CRA, to obtain consumer reports in California. Consumer reports include background checks or credit checks which are used in the hiring process. When a California employer uses a…
Employment terminated based on an employee’s political affiliations, or activities could constitute discrimination and a wrongful action, violating California’s labor laws. The rise of social media has brought employee’s actions that take outside of the workplace into their place of…
A miscarriage isn’t something women often speak about. What would’ve been a joyous occasion is instead marked with pain, except the damage isn’t visible. A miscarriage not only takes a physical toll on a woman’s body, but it can also…
The term “lunch hour” has become a misnomer since most employers don’t actually have an obligation to provide their employees with an hour of lunchtime. Most people would agree that working long hours without any breaks reduces an employee’s productivity. …
What is your current salary or how much were your previous wages? If an employer did not list a pay scale on their job posting, you might feel surprised to see these questions on an employment application and as if…
You may have already become familiar with the term “cancel culture.” Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase either on the news, online, or TV, usually concerning a celebrity or other high-profile public figure. The term is essentially a modern means of ostracizing…
Are you the greeter for Walmart, or a cashier at Target, Vons, Shop Rite, Walgreens, or another retail store? Perhaps you work at a theme park like Disneyland, Universal Studios, or you’re an attendant at The Hollywood Bowl. All these…
The United States is reopening, and many people are returning to work with the dilemma of COVID-19 still hovering over the nation. Employers are expected to create and preserve safe work environments that ensure public safety, as well as the…
Independent Contractor vs Employee? Employees have many different legal protections than independent contractors. Using an independent contractor can relieve an employer of the many burdens that California and Federal laws impose on an employer. For example, an employer is not…
Accidents result in varying degrees of injury. While some injuries may have little to no long-term effects, others may result in a lifetime of permanent physical limitations. An injury that is so severe that it changes a person’s life and…
In the State of California, unlawful sexual harassment in the workplace occurs when an individual directs inappropriate, negative, or unwanted conduct toward an employee based on their gender, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, or other sex-related reasons. Sexual harassment…
Nobody chooses to have a physical disability, but unfortunately, disabilities are a part of life for millions of people throughout the nation. A disability can affect a person’s life in many ways, including his or her employment. In these cases,…
Each year, thousands of new toys hit the shelves across the United States. While the global pandemic has greatly affected many markets, including the toy industry, the production of toys and other products has only slowed but it has not…
Workers in the State of California can experience unpaid wages through various illegitimate methods, including unpaid bonuses, uncompensated salaried hours, and unpaid commissions during a termination period. It is also worth noting that work misclassification is another method employers take…
Workers employed in the State of California are protected from workplace discrimination by both state and federal laws. When an employer subjects a worker to unlawful treatment based on the membership of a protected class, the affected worker has the…
When a person steps into a transit bus or puts a child onto a school bus, trust is placed in the bus driver and company with their safety and security. The last thing anyone expects when boarding a bus is…
State law offers strong legal protections to workers who have been subjected to workplace harassment and discrimination. Despite this, pregnancy discrimination remains rampant. Workers who have been subjected to pregnancy discrimination will need to consider seeking immediate legal support, and…
In California, dogs are popular pets and it is common to see them in virtually every neighborhood in the state. While many dogs make friendly pets, others are aggressive and it can be difficult to determine when they are about…
It is no surprise that motorcyclists are at serious risk of being severely injured when involved in a traffic accident. Unlike most vehicle drivers, motorcyclists do not account for the protections offered by cars, such as the tough metal exterior,…
Accidents can happen at any time and in place, but when the accident results in serious injuries because of the property owner’s negligence, the ability to recover compensation may be possible. In California, property owners have the legal responsibility to…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that traumatic brain injuries are an incredibly serious health issue across the nation. Every year, these types of injuries contribute to a significant number of permanent disability cases and deaths. Typically caused…
Being involved in a traffic accident with a large commercial truck is very different from being involved in a collision with a regular passenger vehicle. When it comes to large truck collisions, the injuries can be far more severe. When…
Traffic accidents are an unfortunate reality of today’s fast-paced lifestyle. Auto accidents can occur at any given moment, and they can even happen to the most cautious of drivers. When a person shares the road with other drivers, he or…
Based on California’s premises liability laws, property owners, holders, occupiers, and managers have the legal responsibility to provide a reasonably safe space for individuals who visit or reside on their property. This can include residents, customers, patrons, or service personnel.…
Licensed healthcare professionals have a legal duty and professional obligation to follow an industry standard of care. When a healthcare professional fails to abide by this standard of care and the patient suffers an injury, it is possible to hold…
In the State of California, it is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against applicants or workers based on their race, national origin, or skin color. If you have been the victim of racial discrimination in the workplace, you have…
When a person steps into a city transit bus or places his or her child into a school bus, trust is placed onto the bus company, the bus driver, and others with regard to safety and security. For many public…
Wrongful deaths are those that are not legally justified. Deaths caused as a result of a careless or negligent driver are never justified. When a car accident has led to a wrongful death, the victim’s surviving family members can recover…
Compared to nearly every other type of vehicle, motorcycles are exceptionally dangerous. Motorcycle riders are not only exposed to outside hazards, but they are also incredibly susceptible to wavering roadway conditions. Even the smallest motorcycle accident can have devastating consequences…
Suffering a slip and fall accident can have serious consequences. Some victims can experience a sprained ankle, soft tissue damage and broken bones. Other victims can experience spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or even death. If you or a…
If someone you love has recently passed away as a result of another’s actions, you will likely want to demand justice for the death of your loved one. Losing a loved one in a tragic accident is a terrible experience,…
If you are involved in a car accident that was caused by another driver and sustained injuries, you might be able to file a claim against the negligent driver’s auto insurance. In many cases, however, the negligent driver will either…
When your rights as a worker have been violated and you have become the victim of sexual harassment in the workplace, the impact can be very profound. In many cases, this is because sexual harassment will usually lead to an…
Losing a job under any circumstances can be a stressful and traumatic experience. When the termination was unlawful or occurred under unfair circumstances, such as a consequence of retaliation, harassment, or discrimination, the termination can be considered particularly egregious. Laying…
When a person undergoes any form of surgery, the procedure will always be a serious matter. While surgical errors can occur as a result of any surgery, errors do not always imply that a medical malpractice occurred. This article will…
There is no amount of money in the world that can ever replace the loss of a loved one who perished as a result of a wrongful death accident. The immense amount of pain after tragically losing a loved one…
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are trauma or injuries inflicted on a person’s brain, which interrupts the normal functioning of the brain. The severity of a traumatic brain injury can…
The construction industry is notoriously dangerous. Job sites involve a multitude of hazardous conditions–a virtual breeding ground for construction accidents. Construction workers regularly have to operate heavy machinery, work in extreme heights, and even work with live electrical wires. Indisputably,…
Commercial vehicle accidents are an unfortunate reality in the State of California. Roads and highways across the state are filled with large commercial vehicles and as a result of their large size, these vehicles pose a dangerous risk to those…
Traumatic brain injuries usually result from a violent jolt or blow to the head. Objects, such as a shattered skull fragment or a bullet, can also cause brain injury as they penetrate brain tissue. Lastly, catastrophic brain injury can also…
The month of June is widely celebrated as Pride Month. Pride Month focuses on celebrating the LGBTQ community and it also serves as an important reminder that there is still work to be done when it comes to LGBTQ rights…
Every driver in the State of California should be aware that state law mandates all drivers to maintain a minimum amount of auto insurance. Having a valid insurance policy will help ensure a driver covers potential losses should they cause…
Traumatic brain injuries have very serious consequences, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these injuries are one of the main causes of death and disability across the country. In fact, the agency reports that between the…
Sex discrimination is the workplace occurs when a worker is treated less favorably as a result of that individual’s sex. This will include his or her sexual orientation, pregnancy, pregnancy-related condition, gender identity and gender expression, as well as sex…
In the State of California, it is illegal for an employer to discriminate against a worker based on that worker’s religion, religious beliefs, and/or religious practices. Employees who have been discriminated against based on their religion have the legal right…
An employer can fire a worker for many different reasons, however, it is unlawful for the employer to fire a worker based on a harassment-related or discriminatory reason. Employers that engage in wrongful discharges may be held accountable for violating…
California takes LGBTQ rights seriously, with anti-discrimination laws that provide strong protections beyond federal regulations in some cases. If you are a member of the LGBTQ community and suspect discrimination based on your sexual orientation or gender identity, you are…
According to the National Traffic Safety Bureau, there were approximately 2 million rear-end collisions throughout the United States in 2012. Rear-end collisions, therefore, are one of the most common types of car accidents in the country, as well as the…
Collisions involving large commercial vehicles are more likely to cause a death than any other type of collision, but this is not the only thing that sets these types of accidents apart. When suffering an injury as a result of…
