Recent Blog Posts
Age Discrimination or a Longtime Employee Who Got Too Comfy?
Aging employees are either the best thing or the worst thing about a workplace. Employers might psych themselves up about hiring fresh, young talent, but the more you press them about their reasons, the more insidious their motives seem. Young people have less experience, so you don’t have to pay them as much. They… Read More »
Are Workplace Holiday Parties a Hotbed for Employment Discrimination?
Joyful occasions have a way of bringing out the worst in people. Perhaps the first time you saw your in-laws at their worst was on your wedding day. Children eagerly anticipate their birthdays for weeks, but once the big day arrives, they fall into temper tantrums at the slightest provocation. Many a graduate has… Read More »
The Equal Employment Opportunity Act Is Still the Law of the Land
Inside the Beltway, people hang on every word that comes out of Capitol Hill or the White House. Here in California, on the complete opposite side of the country, we have bigger things to think about. In the evening, when all the restaurants in D.C. have closed except the ones that cater to the… Read More »
Human Resources Employees Can Be Targets of Discrimination, Too
Every employment discrimination lawsuit begins with an employee who believes that the mistreatment he or she received at work was due to the employee’s protected characteristic contacting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or California Civil Rights Department (CRD), and describing the discriminatory treatment, so that the EEOC or CRD can investigate further. At… Read More »
Disability Accommodations Upon Return From Medical Leave
Most employers and employees are aware that employers must make reasonable accommodations for employees and job applicants with disabilities, but they do not understand the full range of applications of this rule. There are many more scenarios where reasonable accommodations may be necessary besides the classic case of a newly hired employee with a… Read More »
Police Lieutenant Wins Record Settlement After Wrongful Termination
How you approach wrongful termination of employment cases depends on whether you were employed under contract or at will. Most employees in California and most other states are employed on an at will basis, which means that the employer may end the employment relationship at any time and for almost any reason. If you… Read More »
Is It Pregnancy Discrimination If You Aren’t Pregnant?
Especially in our youth-obsessed culture, most women do not think of menopause as a relief. The hot flashes, insomnia, and inexplicable bad moods are no one’s idea of a good time. The social consequences are worse than the physical ones, though. You must cope with the fact that your parents will not be around… Read More »
Involuntary Transfers of Work Location
There is a lot to love about California, from the scenic views to the locally sourced produce and diverse cuisines. Working in California also gives you fewer reasons to complain than employees in other states. California has some of the strongest worker protections involving pay and benefits. It is also home to a thriving… Read More »
Several California Cities Ban Discrimination Based on Nontraditional Family Structure
Everyone who raises a child does so with the help of other adults. Children may only have two legal parents, but the parents are not the only people who play a major role in the child’s life. Some people live in multigenerational households. Single and divorced parents may rely on the help of friends… Read More »
Reasonable Accommodations for Alcohol Use Disorder?
In some work environments, staying away from alcohol is easier than in others. For every recovering alcoholic sipping a Diet Coke at a three-martini lunch with colleagues, and for every supermarket employee who points customers to the beer aisle but declines to help them find the beer they are looking for because she is… Read More »
