Being discriminated against for any reason cultivates one of the most challenging conditions someone can face in the workplace. When an individual suspects that they’re experiencing workplace discrimination, it can be difficult to decide how to proceed. For example, they might worry that the discrimination will be difficult to prove, even if its existence seems quite apparent to them. Or, they might not know where to turn to begin resolving the issue. Is it possible to successfully fight discrimination in the workplace? The answer to that question, of course, is a resounding “yes.” No employee should feel obligated to

Being an employer is challenging. There are a lot of rules and regulations to follow and strict consequences if you fail to do so. It can feel extremely confusing to traverse the strict laws surrounding employment. One area that is especially strict and leaves no room for error is overtime pay. Overtime is a facet of wage law, and violations in this arena can mean wage theft claims and potential legal action. Of course, as an employer, you would like to avoid such a situation and ensure that you are paying your employees correctly. However, employees can be hard

When you clock into work, you are entering an agreement with your employer that your labor will be exchanged for money. No matter your field, the rigor of your job, or the type of workplace, this is the essence of employment. Usually, this exchange is fairly standard, and both parties honor their end of the bargain. Unfortunately, in some cases, one side does not uphold their end of this agreement, and legal action needs to be taken. One such occurrence is an employer’s failure to pay overtime wages. There are strict laws about how many hours you can work, and

No person deserves to feel unsafe or unwelcome in their place of employment—whether due to racial discrimination, instances of sexual harassment, or unsavory practices. Unfortunately, employment and workplace discrimination continues to occur on a regular basis, with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) receiving 67,448 complaints in 2020 alone. When combined with state and local complaints—as well as the numerous incidents that remain unreported—it is clear that fighting workplace discrimination is an ongoing battle. Are you concerned that you, someone close to you, or even a coworker have been experiencing workplace discrimination, but are unsure what qualifies? Continue reading

Being pregnant is a joyful time. As your family expands, your body begins to expand as well to accommodate your newest family member. At some point, it will be time to tell people outside your inner circle that you are expecting a child. The response will likely be overwhelmingly positive as you spread the news, and most people will surely wish you well. Unfortunately, this is not always the case when it comes to employers. Some bosses and managers are less than thrilled to find that an employee is pregnant and will be owed maternity leave and extra accommodation

Workplace discrimination is an enormous issue, both in California and throughout the United States. Despite the establishment of federal, state, and local entities like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the California Equal Employment Rights and Resolution Office (EER&R), and Orange County equal rights groups to investigate these matters, some individuals continue to believe their biases supersede employee rights. In fact, in the most recently completed fiscal year, the federal EEOC alone investigated 72,675 allegations of workplace discrimination. Of these, over half related to retaliation, while another substantial portion resulted from race, sex, age, or national origin – or

As American business continues to increase in both size and complexity, it is perhaps unsurprising that the number of individuals willing to take unfair advantage of others has increased as well. In fact, the federal government alone recovered over $62 billion in judgments for improper acts since 1986 when it strengthened the False Claim Act. As a result, it is essential that fair-minded individuals feel empowered to come forward to expose these wrongdoings, thus enabling the business, its stakeholders, and its clients to seek justice for fraudulent activity. Unfortunately, dishonest individuals often take drastic measures in an attempt to ensure

While countries worldwide are contending with the COVID-19 pandemic, employees who now work from home face another less obvious yet still incredibly harmful challenge—cyberbullying and digital harassment. Most companies have transitioned to working remotely over the past several months. It would seem reasonable to assume that the frequency of workplace abuse would be reduced with this change in environment. However, not only have cyberbullying and digital harassment not decreased, but they have also gotten considerably worse. Workplace Culture Has Suffered as Employees Transition to Working From Home Recent statistics on workplace abuse support this assertion. In a study conducted

Arbitration is a private process in which two or more parties settle an agreement outside of the courtroom with an arbitrator instead of a judge. This is a more discreet way of settling a dispute than going to court and is often preferred by companies and corporations for confidentiality reasons. In a private setting like an arbitration meeting, companies do not have to worry that their trade secrets or other private information will be accessible to anyone outside of the arbitration agreement. An arbitration process can resemble a trial in that both parties make opening and closing statements and present

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaped nearly every aspect of the social and economic landscape here in California and throughout America. Thousands of workers have been laid off or let go due to shut-downs, lack of business, and loss of revenue. While many employers are letting people go with plans of hiring them back as soon as business picks up again, others are using COVID as a smokescreen to get rid of employees for discriminatory reasons. Even during these unprecedented times, employers are prohibited from firing people for discriminatory reasons such as pregnancy or taking necessary sick leave. If your employer