Got Labor Pains: The Blog
As a California Employee, Do I Have Rights to Privacy in the Workplace?
Under California’s constitution, every resident of the state has the right to privacy. To support this right, a number of state laws are designed to protect an employee or job applicant’s privacy in the workplace. Ultimately, it is the employer’s obligation to follow these laws and have the necessary policies in place to ensure… Read More »
Sick Leave: Your Rights Under California Law
The last thing any employee wants to worry about when they are sick and battling a medical condition is the security of their employment. As a California employee, you may wonder, what are your rights for sick leave under state and federal law. We explore below. Federal Law The federal government does not require… Read More »
New California Law Expands Paid Family Leave Benefits for Military Families
California’s Paid Family Leave (PFL) program provides employees who are already covered by State Disability Insurance with benefits in the event they need time off from work to deal with a family member’s serious health condition or to bond with a new child. Under current law, PFL benefits replace between 60 and 70 percent… Read More »
New California Law Prohibits Employers From Requiring Employees to Sign Release of Claims and Non-Disparagement in Exchange for Bonus, Raise, or to Get/Keep Job
Last year, California legislators substantially rewrote the state’s laws governing sexual harassment in the workplace. Part of the nationwide response to the #MeToo movement, California Senate Bill 1300 amended the state’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) to expand protections from workers who have been subject to illegal harassment. Among these changes are new… Read More »
California Court Issues Important Ruling on “Reporting Time Pay” Rule
In employment, many employees may find themselves subject to “on-call” scheduling. If you are not familiar with the practice, here is how it works. Rather than establishing an employee’s schedule in advance, the employer assigns “on-call shifts.” For each day there is a scheduled on-call shift, the employee needs to either call into work,… Read More »
When Should I Be Paid My Final Paycheck in California?
We’ve all heard the saying: out of sight, out of mind. So, what happens if you’ve left your California job and have not received your final paycheck? What are the laws regarding how soon it needs to be paid, what needs to be included, and what are your rights when it comes to collecting?… Read More »
California Approves Law Requiring More Women on Public Company Boards
Historically, corporate boardrooms have been dominated by male directors. In response to this, some countries, such as Germany, have imposed legal quotas requiring a certain percentage of female directors on corporate boards. Recently, California became the first U.S. state to take a step in that direction. On September 30, 2018, Gov. Jerry Brown signed… Read More »
What Is “Regarded-As” Disability Discrimination?
It is against the law for any California employer to discriminate against an employee based on a disability. But is also unlawful for an employer to take an adverse action based on an employee’s perceived disability. This is known in legal parlance as “regarded-as” disability discrimination. It basically covers situations where an employer incorrectly… Read More »
California Bans “Secret” Sexual Harassment Settlements
In light of the ongoing scandals surrounding high-profile cases of sexual harassment and sexual assault, California legislators have moved to restrict the ability of employers and other parties to enforce confidentiality clauses in civil settlement agreements. Many California businesses choose to resolve sexual harassment and related allegations out-of-court, but only on the condition of… Read More »
Are Unpaid Internships Legal in California? The Low Down on Internships
Many California college students and recent graduates are offered unpaid internships so they can “learn about” a particular industry. By some accounts, there are over 1.5 million unpaid interns working in the United States. But is it really legal to ask someone to work for no pay? The answer is maybe – under certain… Read More »
