Imagine: You arrive for your shift at the LA restaurant where you work on payday, looking forward to taking home a paycheck at the end of the night. But when you go to your manager to pick up your paycheck, your manager doesn’t have it. He says the restaurant is having a temporary cash flow problem but promises that...
Continue ReadingMcKenzie was at home, washing baby bottles for her newborn, when she got the news that her position as a communications professional at Salesforce had been eliminated. She was shocked — although the company had announced in early 2023 that 10% of the workforce would be laid off, McKenzie thought that she’d be legally protected from termination by her maternity leave. She’s...
Continue ReadingIf you’re an employee in California, make sure your employer pays you for your time and lets you rest. Under California labor law, employers are not required to offer mandatory grace periods for clocking in and out. However, employers have the option to provide a voluntary 10-minute grace period for employees when they clock out. This flexibility aims to...
Continue ReadingWorkers in California are cheated out of an estimated $2 billion in stolen wages every year. Although California has some of the strongest employee protection laws in the nation, wage theft is unfortunately still pervasive in the state. Especially among low-wage and hourly workers. Many employees don’t even realize that their employers are stealing from them. And those who...
Continue ReadingThe Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) permits eligible employees unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons. The FMLA allows qualifying employees approximately 12 weeks of unpaid time. During leave, the FMLA requires employers to continue the employee’s health insurance coverage. Employers must also allow employees to return to their jobs with no repercussions. Violations of FMLA...
Continue ReadingNon-compete agreements often prevent employees from working for other employers in the same industry and geographic area for a significant amount of time after employees leave their jobs. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recognizes that these agreements can be a source of great stress for many individuals. Non-compete agreements diminish employees’ options for finding better work or making changes...
Continue ReadingIt’s been a very long week. After five grueling twelve-hour days, you are ready for some rest. You are also ready for that overtime payment. However, when payday comes, you notice that you were paid at your regular rate for overtime hours. You think that this has to be a mistake, so you ask your employer. If your employer...
Continue ReadingAmerican workers are the backbone of this country. Employees spend hours working over a burning hot grill, waiting tables, working on assembly lines, delivering packages in time for the holidays, and a multitude of other tasks required to keep our economy going. And despite all this, they are frequently taken advantage of by greedy companies. It is because our...
Continue ReadingWrongful termination lawsuits, often rooted in public policy violations, require a compelling link between the employee’s actions and the specific public policy involved. These legal actions are intricate and demanding, offering a means of redress for employees who allege unjust dismissal. One of the most common reasons a former employee may file a lawsuit against their previous employer is...
Continue ReadingTo protect employee safety and wellbeing, employers are legally required to give their workers break periods for meals and rest time during the course of a work day. Sometimes, though, you may not need or want a break. You might think it’s more efficient for you to waive your lunch break, for instance, and finish your work early. So,...
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