As an employee who spends most of their life at their job, you deserve to be treated with respect. Therefore, every employee in Newport Beach, California has rights that protect them from being mistreated in the workplace. Whether your employer has created a hostile work environment, or has consistently underpaid you, unfair treatment is a violation of your rights as an employee.
If you are being harassed, discriminated against, or treated poorly in your place of work, finding an experienced Newport Beach employment attorney, like one of ours at California Employment Counsel, APC, can help you fight for the proper treatment you deserve.
Employment laws in California exist to protect workers against harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Businesses that fail to comply with these laws should be held accountable for their employees’ pain and suffering. If you believe your rights as an employee have been violated, a Newport Beach employment law lawyer can help you understand your options.
At California Employment Counsel, APC, we offer legal counsel on a variety of employment law matters, including workplace discrimination, sexual harassment, wage and hour theft, and wrongful termination. It can feel intimidating to face an employer on your own. A skilled attorney from our employment law firm can offer you the support you deserve when you have been wronged by your current or former employer.
Contact Now 714-462-8376
Employment law issues are complex. At California Employment Counsel, APC, we are committed to working through these issues and protecting the rights of all California employees in the workplace. With decades of experience between our expert attorneys, and a compassionate and thorough approach to every case, our team is prepared to represent you and your unique situation the best we can. Let us help you fight mistreatment in the workplace and see how our team can help with your employment law claim today.
Whether you are looking for an attorney with decades of practice litigating employment claims on behalf of Orange County workers or if you need compassionate legal support to get through the toughest aspects of your employment dispute, an attorney at California Employment Counsel, APC, can offer you this and more.
It can be intimidating to consult an attorney, and we strive to make you as comfortable as possible at each step of the process.
During an initial consultation, we discuss your case. You may be facing discrimination or harassment at the workplace. Perhaps your employer is not allowing you to utilize the benefits you are entitled to as an employee.
In many cases, our clients may be unsure if their employer is acting unlawfully. This initial conversation can help answer many of your questions and clarify whether or not you have an actionable cause to file an employment complaint.
Employment law is a specific area of the law that focuses on the rights and protections of employees at work. There are both federal and state laws that grant protections to California employees that must be upheld by employers; otherwise, they are violating the law as well as their employees’ rights. Some of the laws that protect employees in California include:
Through these federal and state laws, employees are granted:
No matter what kind of employment law violation you may be facing, our Newport Beach labor lawyers can work with you to protect your rights and make sure that your voice is heard. We handle a variety of employment law cases:
Discrimination in the workplace is an unacceptable behavior. Unfortunately, it is still present in many employees’ day-to-day lives. Because of its historical prevalence, multiple forms of legislation have been implemented over the years to help better protect employees. The California Labor Code, the FEHA, and the Civil Rights Act all protect employees from being discriminated against based on:
California categorizes harassment into two main areas: “quid pro quo” harassment and hostile work environment harassment. Quid pro quo is one of the most common forms of harassment in the workplace. It takes place when an individual with authority, such as a supervisor or boss, mentions, hints at, or asks an employee for sexual activity with the promise of some form of benefit, such as a promotion. Hostile work environment harassment is a form of harassment that happens when an individual in power makes an employee feel uncomfortable or unsafe in the workplace. This can be through bullying, inappropriate remarks or touching, or even physical harassment.
While an employer does not have to justify why they fire an employee in California, employees are protected from wrongful termination. This means that an employer cannot fire you as a form of discrimination or retaliation. Termination based solely on your protected traits also qualifies. Our Newport Beach employment attorneys are familiar with the law surrounding wrongful termination and can help determine whether you were fired legally.
Through the FMLA, all employees have the right to take unpaid, job-protected leave from work for certain medical circumstances. If an employer fires you, does not give you the same job or an equal position, or changes your pay when you return from your leave, our attorneys can help you file a claim immediately.
Every employee also has the right to be paid fair wages for the duties that they perform. Because of this, it is illegal to underpay employees or deny overtime to eligible workers. If you believe that your employer is violating your right to be paid properly, our attorneys can use their knowledge of the law and experience to ensure that they are held accountable.
Unlawful work practices can fall within one or more of these categories. When an employee is affected by these and other unlawful practices at their place of work, it can disrupt their ability to work and may thus affect their mental and financial well-being.
The EEOC handles a large number of complaints from California. In 2022, for instance, they received 4,404 discrimination complaints from the state, which constituted 6% of all complaints received across the United States. 51.3% of these complaints alone were related to claims of retaliation.
Despite the protections afforded by Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), and other labor laws at the federal and state levels, proving that an employee has an actionable claim can be challenging.
If an employer has fewer than five employees, for instance, they may not need to adhere to the policies under the FEHA. Additionally, classifying employees as independent contractors or relying on at-will employment laws can allow businesses to engage in discriminatory or retaliatory behavior against employees without repercussions.
Following an initial conversation and after evaluating any evidence you may have provided during the first meeting, we may recommend taking legal action against an employer. Oftentimes, this involves filing a claim with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD) or the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s local Orange County office. We give you extensive instructions on how to prepare for this step and what to expect.
With our continued support, you will then be able to file a thorough complaint with the appropriate agency. Both the CRD and the EEOC encourage both parties to engage in dispute resolution, including participating in mediation. At this point, your dedicated attorney advocates on your behalf during discussions with your employer’s legal team.
If your case goes to court, we ensure that the discrimination you suffered from is clearly shown and work diligently to obtain compensation for your suffering.
No two employment dispute claims are the same. Because of Costa Mesa’s diverse industrial sectors, with businesses in farming, hospitality, and action sports, the way that laws are applied to various employers may vary. Our role is to empower Costa Mesa employees when facing unfair work practices, regardless of who they are or where they work.
Ray and Nick were an amazing team to work with during a very hard time in my life. Both worked diligently on a resolution and I am happy to say…
I was lost and calling around for advice to help me with my work situations. Nick was there to help me through it all even when he wasn’t my lawyer…
When I first reached out to Ray and Melissa, I had been terminated from my position for complaining of sexual harassment. Immediately I knew I was in good hands with…
If you are worried about facing retaliation at work for exposing unlawful employment practices, you can count on the support of a Newport Beach employment law lawyer. A seasoned attorney may recommend one of the following:
In 2023, California’s CRD received 29,877 employment dispute claims, and in 2024, the EEOC awarded $469.6 million to 13,516 discrimination victims. You deserve to be heard.
At California Employment Counsel, APC, we are dedicated to fighting for the rights of employees across California. We understand just how difficult it can be to work in a place where you are mistreated and uncomfortable, which is why we are committed to holding employers accountable for their actions.
Handling an employment law dispute on your own is unlikely to yield the results you deserve. It is recommended that you work with a seasoned Newport Beach employment law lawyer when you are filing a claim against your employer, whether you are affected by discrimination or a violation of your workplace benefits.
If you are being treated poorly at your place of work, do not wait to find professional legal assistance that you can trust, like us here at California Employment Counsel, APC. To learn more about our employment law services and how we may be able to help your case, contact us today.
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714-462-8376
555 Anton Blvd., Suite 150,
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
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