Do I Have a Case?
Do I Have an Employment Law Case? A Guide for California Workers Something happened at work and it felt wrong. Maybe you were fired without a clear explanation, passed over because of your age, or disciplined after requesting medical leave. Now you’re wondering whether what happened was actually illegal and whether it’s worth doing something […]
AI Hiring Discrimination: What California Workers Should Know
At a Glance You applied for a job and never heard back. You were passed over for a promotion despite strong reviews. You were screened out before a human ever looked at your resume. In more and more workplaces, these decisions are not being made by people at all. They are being made by algorithms, […]
What Is At-Will Employment in California? What Are the Exceptions?
At a Glance “You’re at-will. We don’t need a reason.” Most California employees have heard some version of this. And employers are right that at-will employment gives them significant latitude to terminate workers. But they are wrong if they think at-will means they can fire anyone for any reason without legal consequence. The exceptions to […]
Can You Be Fired for Reporting Discrimination or Harassment in California?
At a Glance Reporting workplace harassment or discrimination is not easy. It takes courage to speak up, and one of the things that makes it harder is the fear that doing so will cost you your job. California law is clear on this point: employers cannot punish employees for reporting misconduct. When they do, they […]
How to Prove Discrimination at Work
At a Glance One of the most common questions employment attorneys hear is: “How do I prove it?” You know what happened. You know how you were treated. But discrimination is almost never accompanied by a written admission or an explicit statement that your race, age, disability, or gender was the reason. So how do […]
Toxic Work Environment vs. Illegal Workplace Harassment: What’s the Difference?
At a Glance Most people who have worked long enough have experienced a workplace that felt toxic: a manager who demeans employees; a culture of favoritism; a team where gossip, pressure, and put-downs are the norm. It is miserable. But is it illegal? The answer depends on a critical distinction that California employment law draws […]
Employment Law 101: Your Basic Rights as a California Employee
At a Glance California has some of the most employee-friendly workplace laws in the United States. But those protections only work if you know they exist. Many workers go through their entire careers without fully understanding what their employer is and is not allowed to do. When something goes wrong, such as a discriminatory comment, […]
Reasonable Accommodation at Work: What California Employers Are Required to Do
At a Glance Being unable to perform a job exactly as written does not mean you lose your right to work. California law takes that seriously. Whether you are managing a chronic illness, recovering from surgery, navigating a mental health condition, or observing a religious practice that conflicts with a work requirement, your employer generally […]
What Is Quid Pro Quo Harassment at Work? Examples Under California Law
At a Glance Quid pro quo sexual harassment occurs when a person in authority conditions a job benefit, or threatens a job consequence, on an employee’s response to sexual conduct or advances. Sexual harassment in the workplace takes many forms, but few are as clear, or as serious, as quid pro quo harassment. If someone […]
Wrongful Termination in California: What It Is (and What It Isn’t)
At a Glance Losing your job is one of the most stressful things that can happen in your professional and personal life. When the circumstances feel wrong or unfair, it is natural to wonder whether what happened to you was actually legal. The term “wrongful termination” gets used a lot, but it does not […]