EMPLOYMENT

Wage & Hour

California employment law is focused on making sure employees get paid for the work they perform. Employers are required to give employees:

Minimum Wage
Overtime Wages
Missed Meal & Rest Break Premiums
Protected Leave
Itemized Wage Statements

Additionally, employers are required to properly classify workers as employees not independent contactors. More importantly, employers must properly classify its employees as either non-exempt (hourly) or exempt (salary), paying close attention to the requirements for both types.

Harassment, Discrimination & Retaliation

California, under the Fair Employment & Housing Act ("FEHA") prohibits employers from mistreating employees, treating employees less favorably, saying derogatory comments, wrongful termination, or otherwise treating an employee differently, based on the employee being in one of the protected classes:

Race, color
Ancestry, national origin
Religion, creed
Age (40 and over)
Mental and/or physical disability
Sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical conditions)
Sexual orientation
Gender identity and expression
Medical condition
Genetic information
Marital Status
Military or veteran status

Whistleblower

Employees are protected from being retaliated against or terminated because the employee reported to a government agency about believed employment law violations committed by the employer.

Wrongful Termination

Employees are wrongfully terminated if their employer fired them because the employee:

Filed a Workers' Compensation claim
Reported employer to a government agency
Complained about employment law violations
Had an implied contract to not be terminated without cause
Exercised rights under FEHA
Expressed different political views from employer