Employment law and consumer protection, explained by the attorneys who litigate it. Straight answers on your rights at work and in the marketplace.
Employment Law
Anyone can potentially become the victim of workplace discrimination based on race, no matter their ethnic background. And no ethnicity excuses a business owner, executive or manager from discriminatory behavior toward subordinates. In a local example, a former employee of Southern California chain Roscoe’s Chicken ‘n Waffles has prevailed in his discrimination suit against the […]
Employment Law
Uber has been in the news recently due to allegations that the company misclassifies its drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. What you may not know is that employee misclassification is serious issue affecting workers in nearly every industry throughout California and beyond - and it could be affecting you. Do you fall into […]
Employment Law
A common defense to workplace sexual harassment claims is consent. In other words, an accused supervisor may say that the plaintiff welcomed his or her sexual comments or advances, or that the two parties engaged in a sexual relationship. Whether the defendant’s conduct was welcome to the plaintiff or not may become a key point […]
Employment Law
It has been more than two months since we discussed the outcome of a woman’s employment discrimination lawsuit against preppy clothing chain Abercrombie & Fitch. As a reminder, the woman was not hired as a salesperson because managers decided that her Muslim headscarf, known as a hijab, was not acceptable attire. The woman prevailed in […]
Employment Law
Late in May, we discussed allegations that Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson sexually harassed an employee in the city manager’s office in 2013 and 2014. Such accusations are now expanding beyond Johnson to others in City Hall, with two new sexual harassment suits being filed in two days. One of the suits is against Vice Mayor […]
Employment Law
One of the most important pieces of federal law for American workers is the Family and Medical Leave Act. This law recognizes that, sooner or later, most people experience life events that need their full attention for a while. However, few people are willing or able to quit their job permanently due to a new […]
Employment Law
By now, our readers are surely aware of the decision that the U.S. Supreme Court handed down late in June, ruling that all denials of same-sex marriage by the states are unconstitutional. This is a big victory for advocates for LGBT rights in this country, but the fight for civil rights is not yet over. […]
Employment Law
Despite increased attention and action against sexual harassment in recent years, it remains a serious problem in many workplaces. Many observers see systemic sexual harassment as a form of control, an attempt by management to prevent women from advancing to workplace equality. Perhaps for this reason, the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 explicitly defines […]
Employment Law
In an update to a case we last discussed in February, a Muslim woman who was denied a job at clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch has prevailed before the U.S. Supreme Court. In an 8-1 ruling, the Court agreed that job applicants need not ask for their right to religious accommodations be honored by a […]
Employment Law
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says that an internal investigation has vindicated him from accusations by a city employee that he sexually harassed her several times from late 2013 to mid-2014. The accuser, who recently has filed suit, says she was forced to turn down a promising new job to avoid being around Johnson. The plaintiff […]
Employment Law
When you feel you’ve been treated unfairly at work, it can be hard to know whether your employer’s actions reach the level of illegal discrimination. To help you evaluate the situation if this has happened to you, we recently released a white paper titled “Is That Legal? A Worker’s Guide to Spotting Employment Discrimination.” We […]
Employment Law
In America, LGBT people are enjoying more freedom and acceptance than they perhaps ever have before. Besides same-sex marriage becoming legal in more and more states, gay, lesbian and transgender people are increasingly able to be open and free about who they are and be treated with the same respect as everybody else. However, prejudice […]
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