The law provides that employees may not be fired for an unlawful reason. Firing an employee for an unlawful reason is what is known as “wrongful termination.” In California, employees are considered to be “at-will employees” which means that you can be fired at any time for any reason. However, workers are entitled to...

Dating RelationshipsEmployers may establish policies that prohibit employees from participating in dating and sexual relationships that create a conflict of interest (e.g., between a supervisor and a subordinate), to reduce exposure to sexual harassment claims and to prevent harm to employee morale that may result from perceived favoritism. Notice to employees of this policy...

Federal laws also protect “at-will” employees from being wrongfully terminated for participating in protected activities. For example:The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) protects employees from discrimination for the exercise of their right to take family care leave as provided in the Act.Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits discriminatory discharge on the basis...

Different industries have their own signature labor code violations that you often hear about in the news. Tech industries are often accused of gender discrimination and sexism. Foodservice institutions are routinely served with wage and hour lawsuits. Fashion retailers see sexual harassment claims from both employees and customers. The often forgotten prejudice in labor law,...

California law is very specific regarding gratuities left employees. It provides that, “every gratuity is hereby declared to be the sole property of the employee or employees to whom it was paid, given, or left for”. This means that an employer must pay the employee the full amount of the tip that is left for...