California Employment Lawyer

California employees are entitled to a workplace that is safe and free from discrimination, harassment, and other forms of unlawful mistreatment. However, many employers defy state and federal employment statutes to the detriment of the workforce. The losses for employees can be considerable, which is why the laws provide you with options if you suffer from workplace misconduct. By taking legal action, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your losses and other forms of relief.

Because the process can be complicated, it is wise to rely on our team at Litigation, P.C. for assistance with an California employment law matter. We have extensive knowledge of the relevant statutes, backed by years of experience representing employees whose rights were compromised by employer misconduct.

Being involved in an employment dispute often feels hopeless. Employees typically depend on their jobs to support themselves and their families. Employers are usually large corporations or other businesses that have many resources at their disposal. It is for this reason that all employees have rights under California law and when those rights are violated, they should hold their employer accountable for making things right. If your employer has not treated you fairly, our California employment lawyer can help with your case. Please contact our firm to set up a free consultation and read on for a legal summary.

Basics of California Employment Laws

The two main statutes that protect workers in Los Angeles are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). However, there are numerous additional employment laws and regulations at both the state and federal level. Together, this body of laws addresses a wide range of misconduct in the workplace. Our Los Angeles employment law attorney at Litigation, P.C. is prepared to assist with:

Discrimination and Harassment

Discrimination takes many forms in the workplace and state and federal law prohibit all forms of it. Employees should never face discrimination based on their race, disability, gender, pregnancy, and more. Discrimination differs from harassment. While harassment involves behaviors not related to an employer’s job, such as going on dates, discrimination does involve normal job duties, such as promoting and firing workers. Proving discrimination in the workplace is very challenging, but an employment lawyer can help.

It is unlawful to treat employees differently because they possess characteristics that are protected by law. You may have legal remedies if you were the target of discrimination on account of:

Race, ethnicity, or national origin;
Religion;
Age;
Disability;
Sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, and other sex-related factors;
Marital status; and,
Many other characteristics.

In addition, sexual harassment is unlawful based upon discrimination laws. Employees have recourse for both hostile work environment and quid pro quo forms of sexual harassment.

Sexual Harassment

California recognizes two types of sexual harassment in the workplace. The first is quid pro quo harassment, which involves a person in a position of authority over an employee offering the worker something of value in exchange for sexual or romantic favors. For example, a boss may tell an employee they will be promoted if the worker goes on a date with them.

The other form of sexual harassment involves actions which create a hostile work environment. In order to prove a hostile work environment, the behavior must be persistent and pervasive enough to interfere with the employee’s work duties. A California employment lawyer can advise on whether behavior at the workplace constitutes sexual harassment.

Wrongful Termination

The majority of employees in California are considered at-will employees, which means employers can fire them at any time, and for almost any reason. However, there are several important exceptions to California’s at-will employment law. If you are fired based on your race, gender, religion, national origin, or other protected class, your employer has broken federal law.

Additionally, state law provides many employees protection from being fired for filing a whistleblower complaint, a workers’ compensation claim, and more. It is advisable that you speak to an employment lawyer any time you feel as though you were wrongfully terminated.

Wage and Hour Disputes

State law outlines the minimum wage all employees in California must receive for every hour they work. California law also stipulates that employees that work more than eight hours a day, 40 hours in one workweek, or six consecutive days in a workweek, receive one-and-a-half times their regular pay for every hour worked. Sometimes, employers will simply refuse to pay workers the wage they rightfully earned, or they refuse to pay them overtime. When employers make such refusals, employees can take legal action against them.

Call Our California Employment Lawyer Today

Unfortunately, the above are just a few of the most common issues addressed in employment law. If you feel as though your employer has treated you unfairly, our California employment lawyer at Litigation, P.C. is here to help. Call us today at 424-284-2401 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.