Not everyone acts nicely toward everyone else all the time. This is true everywhere, from the home to the street and the school playground to the workplace. Despite philosophical self-help books telling you not to take insults personally because someone’s unpleasant...
El Segundo Employment Law Blog
What is a wage and hour class action lawsuit?
All California employees eligible under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) have the right to overtime pay. The problem is that employers do not always fulfill their financial obligations to their employees, whether negligently or intentionally. Although the FLSA...
If marijuana is legal, can your employer test you for it?
As long as you are over 21 years of age, you can legally use marijuana in California. There are certain restrictions of course. For example, you cannot use it in public places and you cannot do so while driving. But what about while at work? Your employer still gets...
I work in the tech industry and am over 50. Should I be worried about ageism?
The tech industry tends to get some heat about ageism. A job posting a few years ago that clearly stated “we hire old people” did not help matters. Unfortunately, there is good reason for these frustrations. Studies show that the tech industry tends to favor those...
How can you tell if your employer is retaliating against you?
If your superiors mistreat you or you witness employer misconduct, you have the right to file a complaint or report. Unfortunately, some employers react inappropriately when employees exercise this and other rights. They may retaliate against the worker, which usually...
Can your employer tell you not to discuss wages?
The company you work for hires a new person who is going to be doing a similar job. Your boss brings you into the office to tell you about the hiring. On your way out the door, they smile and mention, almost as a throwaway comment, that it would be best if you just...
Is your employer using your meal breaks to steal your money?
California has long been a “pro-employee” kind of state, with laws heavily favoring workers’ rights – but that doesn’t stop wage theft from happening on a regular basis. One of the most common ways that wage theft happens is when an employer violates their employees’...
Can employers demand work before and after shifts?
Companies often look for new ways to demand more from their workers in the interest of maximizing profits. They may increase sales quotas even though the business is profitable. They might change policies and refuse to grant overtime to eligible workers. Sometimes,...
What is quid pro quo harassment and how can you prove it?
Every employee deserves a safe and fair work environment. And most employers take appropriate steps to make this goal a reality. However, it is not uncommon for employees to report incidents of sexual harassment at work. One of the most subtle, yet devastating, forms...
Can you be fired for making a complaint in the workplace?
It's very difficult to be in a situation where you witness something at work that you believe to be discrimination. Even though you know you should file a complaint because you don't want the behavior to continue, you hesitate because you're worried about what might...