Half the time, you feel like you’re working with a bunch of adolescents – because the banter around the workplace is so juvenile and sexually charged. When you complain to your co-workers and your boss, you hear things like, “It was just a joke!” and, “Don’t be a poor sport!” or even, “This is how we bond!” If this sounds familiar, you may be the victim of sexual harassment and a hostile work environment.  When small things pile up Individually, the comments and innuendo you’re constantly exposed to may not seem like much, but when the conduct becomes severe and pervasive, it can leave yo ..read more

California has many laws designed to protect employees. These laws address everything from breaks and lunch periods to overtime pay and minimum wage. Another issue that’s covered by state law is final paychecks. As part of a worker’s final paycheck, the employer has to pay for any non-income-based compensation, such as paid time off, that the employee is due. The law helps to ensure that employees receive their final paycheck in a timely manner. What’s considered timely is determined by the situation that surrounds a worker’s change in employment status. Final paycheck upon termination When an ..read more

Most employees treat their managers with some amount of respect. Even if they don’t personally like them, they keep their feelings to themselves. They certainly don’t say disparaging things to or in front of them. It seems like that would be a quick route to unemployment. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Managers and supervisors at all levels have been the victims of discrimination and harassment by people who work for them. It’s not always a simple thing to require these employees to stop or to fire them – especially if those in upper management condone the behavior. In cases that h ..read more

There are federal laws and California state statutes that establish the right to compensation for time worked. Hourly employees have certain legal protections entitling them to wages for the time that they work. Not only must employers pay workers consistently for all time worked, but they may also need to pay overtime wages when workers are on the job for very long shifts, work seven days in a row or put in more than 40 hours in a single week. Additionally, California law expands on pay rights for workers. There are some scenarios in which employees deserve a paid break. When must companies a ..read more

You may hear a lot about reasonable accommodations in the workplace for disabilities, but that’s not the only situation where employers are expected to make a few minor adjustments for their employees.  Religious accommodations, too, are essential to ensure that employees can observe their faith without fear of discrimination or retaliation in the workplace.  Minor adjustments without massive disruptions A reasonable religious accommodation is any adjustment that lets an employee practice their religion so long as that adjustment doesn’t cause the employer significant hardship. What ..read more

It used to be that if you had a difficult co-worker or boss, at least once you went home at the end of the day, you were rid of them (until the next workday). Now, they can follow you into your home and other personal spaces via social media, text and other digital communications. You might assume that there’s nothing your employer can do if the person isn’t harassing you in the workplace. That’s not the case.  As people increasingly have a presence online, it’s become an “extension of the workplace.” That can apply whether someone is caught on video yelling racial slurs at a neighbor, st ..read more

As an employee, you are entitled to a safe and harassment-free workplace. And while most employers strive to make the workplace safe, incidents of sexual harassment are not uncommon. If you are a victim of sexual harassment at work, the law permits you to sue your employer for the resulting damages. To litigate your claim, however, you must show that your allegations are true. This is where proof of sexual harassment comes in. So, how do you prove that you have been sexually harassed at work? Understanding sexual harassment at work Workplace sexual harassment, at the very basic, is defined as ..read more

Freedom of religion and, therefore, protection from religious discrimination is a cornerstone of American culture. The law broadly recognizes that people should have the freedom to express and observe their faith in whatever way they deem appropriate. The First Amendment protects people from any governmental violations of their right to freedom of religion. There are also numerous federal and state laws protecting religious freedom from discrimination in private settings. For example, certain employment laws prohibit employers from considering someone’s religion when deciding who to hire or ho ..read more

If you are an employee in California, chances are you are hired on an at-will basis. Basically, this means that your employer can terminate the employment contract for almost any reason (or no reason at all).  While your employer can end the employment for almost any reason, it is important to understand that there are limitations to this provision. If these limitations are stretched, you may seek justice by filing a wrongful termination claim against the employer.  So, what are the limitations to at-will employment? Both state and federal laws have restrictions on the grounds upon w ..read more

The concept of “quiet firing” has gained a lot of attention in the past few years. Rather than terminate an employee outright, management just treats targeted employees with so much disregard or disdain that they end up feeling pushed out. Most will eventually quit. Is this illegal? It may be. Here’s why: It could be a violation of employment laws Quiet firing might involve discriminatory practices, harassment or other violations of employment laws. For example, if the employees who experience quiet firing are all above 40 years of age, they may be victims of age discrimination.  Quiet fi ..read more