In California, pregnant workers are protected by two distinct laws. These laws are the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) and Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL). Although they provide essential safeguards for pregnant employees, they work differently. In light of...
Year: 2023
How to avoid claims or disputes when firing an employee
In an at-will state like California, an employer should be able to fire an employee anytime and for any reason. However, the Labor Commissioner’s Office has more than 45 laws against discrimination and retaliation in the workplace. Employees can use these laws to...
Questions you should not ask applicants during a job interview
Federal laws protect workers from generally all types of discrimination. These protections cover all stages of employment, including the recruitment process. If you do not want to violate anti-discrimination laws when interviewing job applicants, avoiding the...
Five subtle signs of age discrimination in the workplace
Staying as an employee in a company for decades is an admirable feat. The longer you work for an employer, the more memories and lessons you can cherish as you consider retirement. However, these sentiments could quickly turn sour if you become a victim of age...
The real cost of not conducting a workplace investigation
As an employer, you are always mindful of expenses and keen to save where you can. When it comes to workplace investigations, you might find yourself hesitating due to concerns about costs and potential legal ramifications. But before you brush off the idea, let us...
How can I build a strong employer retaliation case?
The law protects employees from retaliation after they report violations in their workplace. This protection helps keep workplaces safe and free from misconduct. Employees who believe they experienced retaliation by their superiors or employers may be able to build a...
The rights of a working mother
People often find that going to work is inconvenient for different reasons. A working mother must deal with those reasons alongside her pregnancy and/or childbirth. It is only fair that the government protects working mothers and their rights to a conducive workplace....
Understanding wrongful termination and next steps
For the most part, California employers are free to fire their employees for any number of reasons: because the employee is doing a bad job, because the company needs to cut costs or even because the employer just doesn’t like the employee’s attitude. However, there...
Is it time to update your employee handbook?
If you are a medium-sized Los Angeles area business owner who wants to update your employee handbook, specifically the policies around discrimination, you might be wondering what to include and how to communicate it effectively. Discrimination is a significant issue...
Labor Department says garment workers faced wage violations
In California, some workers are prime targets for workplace violations. This could be due to being immigrants, working in jobs that involve manual labor, not having specific wage parameters and for myriad reasons. It is important for every worker to understand their...