Work is essential for most of us to support ourselves and our families. You do your job to the best of your ability and expect to be treated fairly in return.
If you have experienced unfair treatment from your employer, contact the Law Offices of Scott R. Herndon. Our Hollywood employment lawyers will review your situation and explain your rights. Connect with our team so we can help you better understand your options for resolving the matter in your favor.
California is an employment-at-will state. That means that neither you nor your employer has an obligation to maintain the relationship. You can quit at will, and the employer can dismiss you without cause, at any time, and without notice.
At the same time, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act protects you from discrimination based on personal characteristics like race, religion, national origin, and gender expression. In total, there are 18 protected classes specified in the law at California Government Code §12940. This law applies to all employers with five or more workers.
Although employers have broad rights to terminate your employment, they cannot do so for discriminatory reasons. If you believe your employer has taken an employment action based on your membership in one of the protected classes, discuss the matter with our Hollywood attorneys. Options include negotiating a reasonable settlement with the employer, filing a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, or pursuing a lawsuit.
Employees are often privy to sensitive information about their employer. In some cases, they learn that the employer is violating laws and regulations. Workers who speak up about improper practices, either internally to management or externally to regulatory authorities, sometimes face retaliation.
Whistleblowers, a term referring to individuals who bring attention to improper practices, are protected under the law. Although whistleblower retaliation is common, it is illegal.
Contact our Hollywood attorneys if you are aware of illegal practices at your workplace. We could work with you to develop a strategy to effectively report the wrongdoing. If you have already reported an incident and experienced retaliation, we may be able to intervene with your employer and file a lawsuit when necessary.
Wage theft is another common way employers take advantage of workers. There are numerous ways an employer could commit wage theft. Consult our Hollywood employment attorneys immediately if you believe your employer is not paying what you have earned.
Employers in Hollywood are required to pay a living wage, which varies depending on whether they offer health benefits. The living wage in Hollywood is substantially higher than California’s minimum wage of $16.50. Employers may avoid paying the required living wage by inflating the value of health benefits, requiring unpaid work or unpaid training, denying meal breaks, and using other strategies.
People whose duties are primarily administrative are considered exempt employees and are not entitled to overtime. Some employers avoid paying overtime by classifying a worker with some supervisory responsibility as exempt, even though their duties are not primarily administrative or executive. If your employer has misclassified you in this way, they may be responsible for paying your legal costs, and you may be entitled to back pay.
Your employer depends on people like you for their business to thrive. In return, you deserve fair pay and equal treatment. When your employer takes advantage of you and does not treat you fairly, you may have legal options.
Let the Hollywood employment lawyers at the Law Office of Scott R. Herndon help. Reach out today to discuss your employment issue with a knowledgeable and compassionate attorney.
