Yes, an employee who is in a protected class can often still be terminated from their position, but doing so can be a bit more complex for the employer. As an employer, you know that employees have certain protections against wrongful termination. For instance, Title...
Are wrongful termination claims impossible with at-will employment?
Many modern employees in the United States are at-will employees. This essentially means that they are not operating under any employment contracts or agreements that they have signed. They have simply agreed to take a job for as long as they are willing, but they...
How can employers create legal dress codes?
A dress code can be helpful in some business environments. A store owner may want employees to wear similar outfits so that staff members can be readily identified by customers, for example. An office manager may want employees to adhere to a certain dress code to...
California’s non-compete ban: The truth about section 16600
Non-compete agreements affect both employees and employers. If you are an employee, this clause aims to restrict your ability to work for a competitor. If you are an employer, you can use this clause to protect your business. Do non-compete agreements hold up in...
Can employers fire workers for filing qui tam lawsuits?
There are many ways for employees to address business misconduct. In some cases, reporting the matter internally to management could resolve the issue. Other times, they may need to involve outside regulatory authorities. In special circumstances, it may even be...
3 signs of “Quiet firing”
“Quiet firing” occurs when an employer deliberately creates a toxic work environment in the hope that an employee will quit on their own. Some employers resort to quiet firing because they do not want to pay severance or unemployment. In other cases, quiet firing may...
When does an employee become a whistleblower?
Federal and state laws protect workers in a variety of scenarios. Employees have protection based on their personal characteristics, such as their race, religion and sex. Workers also have protection when they engage in certain activities, such as attempting to...
What are protected activities?
In California, protected activities are actions employees are allowed to take at work without facing punishment. These actions are often tied to reporting illegal behavior, standing up against discrimination or asserting workplace rights. The law is designed to make...
Denied reasonable accommodations. What next?
If your request for reasonable accommodations at work has been denied, you may feel frustrated, confused or even singled out. Accommodations are a key protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and denial can raise serious concerns. In these moments,...
Are you an employee or an independent contractor?
Understanding whether you are classified as an employee or an independent contractor is important for your rights at work. This classification affects your wages, benefits, job protections, and tax responsibilities. In some cases, companies may misclassify workers,...