The more skilled and educated you are, the more traumatic a sudden job loss can be. That’s true whether the company terminates just you or engages in large-scale layoffs and terminations due to restructuring. You will have to immediately adjust your daily life and...
Employment Law
You caught your California employer doing something illegal. Now what?
You were already suspicious that your employer was committing some kind of fraud. Now, you’re sure of it -- and you’re ready to blow the whistle. Before you take another step, however, there are three things you need to know: Whistleblower rights are not universal....
Racial jokes create a hostile environment
Do you have a boss who tells racially-fueled jokes? In many cases, people are exposed to these jokes as they grow up and may not understand or realize just how offensive they are. They think that these are just the type of jokes that people tell. That does not make it...
How to arrange a golden parachute to soften your landing following a job loss
In these trying times, it is quite possible that your next paycheck envelope could contain an unwelcome pink slip. You are likely to be shocked and even destabilized at the news of your termination. While that might be unavoidable, you should know that you have...
Don’t sign that severance agreement just yet
If your employer is terminating your employment, they may offer you a severance package. While it’s not as good as keeping your job, at least you’re getting something in return for the time you spent with them. You may be tempted to sign a severance agreement on the...
Am I entitled to Family Medical Leave?
Sometimes, you need to take unscheduled time off work for medical reasons, be they your own, or those of a family member. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows you to take up to 12 weeks off per year for certain medical and family needs. The time off will be...
How does class-action status help plaintiffs?
News out of California may have the higher-ups at Google a bit alarmed: Four women, all former employees, are now seeking class-action status for their gender discrimination claim against the tech mega-corporation. According to the plaintiffs, Google routinely paid...
If you work overtime, you should be paid for it
You have always had a 9-to-5 job, and every other employer has paid you on time and with overtime when you worked over 40 hours a week. You even took extra time from others, so that you could earn as much as possible. Your employer didn’t approve the hours, and when...
Technology giant faces discrimination lawsuit
Cisco System, headquartered in San Jose, is facing a lawsuit brought by the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing regarding the treatment of an employee. The engineer at the center of the lawsuit is a Dalit Indian, which is considered an untouchable in...
You have a right to take leave when your family grows
If your company offers paid maternity leave, they will likely have explained the conditions you must meet in order to secure that leave when you first got hired. However, paid maternity leave is an employer benefit. Even if you don't have any paid leave, you still...