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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Regrettably, there are too many employees in California who find themselves in the challenging position of considering resigning from their workplace over unbearable and uncomfortable circumstances. Constructive discharge in California can sometimes be referred to as a constructive dismissal or…
Age discrimination in the workplace has been a nationwide issue for many years. Regrettably, it has resulted in the wrongful termination or demotion of countless workers. Even though workplace discrimination based on a person’s age is unlawful, many employers continue…
The state’s wage and overtime laws make employers fully compensate their workers for all of the hours worked. Employees that work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week are entitled to receive overtime pay. When employers…
Whistleblower protection laws in California prohibit supervisors and companies from retaliating against workers that report a suspected violation of law. For instance, whistleblower protection laws in the state will protect workers in the event that: A worker who made a…
For every employee of faith, navigating religious rights at work can be difficult. This could be particularly true if the religious observance or holiday is not as commercialized as Christmas. While employers in California should at least attempt to offer…
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act, established in 1967, was enacted in effort of protecting workers from age-related discrimination in the workplace. Although this was a proactive step in minimizing workplace discrimination and protecting employees’ rights, age discrimination is an…
