The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) is the primary law that protects California employees from discrimination, retaliation, and harassment in the workplace. If you have experienced any of these issues while employed in California, you may be eligible for relief. California FEHA Regulations The FEHA anti-discrimination provisions are applicable to any employer with… Read More
On January 1, 2020, AB 51 was signed into law. It prohibits employers from forcing employees to enter into mandatory arbitration agreements in California. Many employers throughout California require employees to enter into arbitration agreements as a condition of employment. AB 51 affects any California employee’s new, modified, or extended employment contract. What Is AB… Read More
Does California Guarantee “Paternity Leave” to Dads? [Updated 2021] The structure of American society has changed dramatically over the last several decades. A greater percentage of fathers are now taking off time from work to care for and bond with their newborn children. According to the United States Department of Labor, 90 percent of fathers… Read More
California law does not require employers to drug test their employees unless doing so is necessary to comply with federal law. Many employers, however, still conduct drug testing and require it as a condition of employment. As a result, knowing your rights can help you avoid unnecessary and illegal drug tests by your employer. Drug… Read More
If you are an employee and your employer started paying you under the table, you may be wondering whether it is legal. Employers may have many reasons why they choose to do this, including avoiding tax obligations and paying for workers’ compensation insurance. However, paying employees under the table is illegal in California. If you… Read More
The short answer is, No. There is no such legal requirement. California, like most states, is an “at-will” employment state, meaning that in most instances employers can fire employees at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or advance notice. While this may seem harsh, it also means the flip side applies as… Read More
The COVID-19 global pandemic has left millions of employees wondering about their paid leave rights. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), passed on March 18, 2020, requires certain employers to provide employees with emergency paid sick leave or expanded medical or family leave in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis. The provisions remain… Read More
In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Governor Gavin Newsom issued shelter-in-place orders requiring various businesses to shutter their doors. Despite these orders, some employers continue to require employees to show up to work. If the employees refuse, some have been terminated. Governor Newsom’s shelter-in-place orders supersede any demand from an employer to show up… Read More
The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) authorizes workers to file claims against their employers for violations of the Labor Code. Multiple failures to enforce labor code violations prompted the creation of PAGA in 2004. Under California law, PAGA permits employees to act as private attorneys general and pursue civil penalties as if they were a… Read More
Class-action lawsuits in California are encouraged for the advancement of public policy goals. A group of individuals files a class-action lawsuit to resolve a complaint they share against an employer. There are some differences between class-action requirements in California and those for filing a federal class-action lawsuit. The assistance of experienced class-action attorneys is essential… Read More