Los Angeles Employment Law Attorneys

Los Angeles Employment Lawyers

Our Los Angeles employment law attorneys will assist you in defending your rights in court. We have extensive experience in employment litigation. We believe that all employees should receive equal treatment in the workplace.  We understand that getting mistreated by your employer could be devastating, especially if they withhold your paycheck. No person should have to endure such traumatic experiences. Our employment law attorneys have experience negotiating and going to jury trials. We represent clients in every city in Los Angeles county such as Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, etc.

Employment disputes are one of the most common legal claims in the city of Los Angeles  During this recent COVID-19 pandemic, many employers have taken advantage of their employees, paying less than what is required. Others have also failed to offer employees time off when they have been diagnosed with the Coronavirus. If you have experienced any of these circumstances, contact us immediately.

Although there are several laws in place, on a federal level and state level, unfortunately many employers still mistreat their employees with the respect they deserve. For example, no employee should have to be discriminated against, harassed, or retaliated against just for taking specific protected actions. Contact our experienced Los Angeles employment lawyers today for assistance on your case. If you have been mistreated, you deserve compensation.

We understand that individuals depend on jobs for their livelihood. Many people, especially today during the covid-19 pandemic, live paycheck-to-paycheck and often rely on their employers to pay them the fair wages they deserve. We understand that many clients do not have the financial freedom to pay an attorney up front. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we will front all the costs for your claim. You do not have to pay us any fees unless we win a judgment or a settlement in your favor. Our labor and employment law attorneys are well-versed in both federal and Los Angeles employment law statutes.

It could be very difficult to navigate through the legal process, especially when you have an employment law claim that involves multiple parties. Our experienced firm will provide you with the legal experience, and navigate through the legal process for you while keeping you informed  of every step of your claim.

What is employment law?

Employment law is a legal area of practice that focuses on the obligations and responsibilities between an employer and employee relationship. This encompasses several different factors at work, such as wages, hourly employment, etc. Employment law is meant to protect the rights of the employees.  We have decades of experience representing employees and unions. We work directly with employees to file lawsuits on their behalf regarding any employment law claims.

Employment Law Terms

There are a variety of terms that often come up in employment law claims. We always strive to make sure that our clients are well informed about the legal terms that are mentioned in their case. Common legal terms that usually come up in employment law claims include:

• Back pay: this term is used to describe the damages compensation award in an employment lawsuit. This term refers to the amount of money the employee is seeking. This is the compensation the employee would have earned if they were not mistreated and still were working. For example, if the employee was not unfairly terminated, the employee would have made $5,000 a month. The employee would then seek to recover these damages in the employment lawsuit.
• At will employment: this is a type of employer and employee relationship where either party can terminate the relationship at any point. Although employers could terminate employees at any time, employers must  still terminate the employee with good faith.  Just because the employment relationship is that will does not mean that the employer could take advantage of their relationship and fire the employee with bad faith.
• Hostile work environment: this term refers to harassment or unwanted behavior that occurs at the workplace. When filing a claim for a hostile work environment, the employee needs to show how it interfered with their ability to work.

We Handle a Variety of Employment Law Cases in Los Angeles

Our experienced team of labor lawyers can help you with all types of employment cases including:

• Wrongful Termination 
• Workplace Discrimination
• Workplace Harassment
• Workplace Retaliation 
• Wage and Hour Disputes 
• Wage Disputes
• Whistleblower Retaliation
• LGBTQ Discrimination
• Private Attorneys General Act
• Workplace Age Discrimination
• Racial Discrimination

Do I need an attorney?

If your employer has taken advantage of you and withheld financial payments, we advise that you seek an employment law attorney immediately. Going against your employer alone without a lawyer could lead you to receive lower settlement amounts. With an employment law attorney representing you, they could handle the legal hurdles for you and maximize your compensation.

What rights do employees have in Los Angeles?

Below are some common rights that all employees are required to have in California:

• Overtime pay
• Paid sick leave
• Meal brakes
• Rest breaks
• Minimum wage
• Limited unpaid family leave
• Safe protection from sexual harassment
• Safe protection from wrongful termination
• Safe protection from discrimination based on race, religion, pregnancy, age, gender, sex, gender identity, national origin, ethnicity

What if I Have Been Laid Off Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Before 2020, The federal Warn Act mandated businesses to alert their employees before massive layoffs. However, because of the covid-19 pandemic, this act has been more relaxed and now companies do not have to advise their employees in advance before making any massive layoffs.

When could I get paid after I have been laid off?

California law mandates that employers pay their employees their final paycheck on their last day of work. However, if an employee quits, they have 72 hours to receive their paycheck from their employer. It is important to note that there is no rule that mandates employers to pay severance to their employees. Usually, severance is included in employment contracts prior to bringing the employee on. If you have not been paid on the day you were fired, contact our experienced California employment attorneys today to discuss the claims you may have against your employer.

Could I file a lawsuit against my employer and continue working in Los Angeles?

You could file a lawsuit against your employer and continue working for your employer. In fact, your employer cannot fire you in retaliation for filing a lawsuit against them.  We recommend that all employees use all their resources before filing a lawsuit against their employers. For more information, contact our employment and labor attorneys.

Does my employer have to let me know when they’re going to fire me?

As of March 4, 2020, certain businesses do not have to provide employees with notices of mass layoffs. This rule was changed during the covid-19 period.

Could I get fired for my appearance at work in Los Angeles?

Federal laws prohibit employment discrimination based on appearance. Several California labor laws also prohibit discrimination based on height or weight. However, employers have the right to impose a specific dress code. They also have the right to address employees’ grooming standards.

But, it is important to note that  religious exemptions apply. For example, if your employer prohibits any earrings, and you have a religious belief in wearing earrings, you should not be fired. You may have a claim for wrongful termination and discrimination if you are fired.

When should I file my employment law claim in  Los Angeles?

Statute of limitations is a legal term used to describe the time period in which a plaintiff could bring a claim. When the plaintiff brings this claim after the time has passed, the plaintiff’s claim will most likely be dismissed. Different states have different time limits. In fact, California has different time limits based on the claim.

• If the claim involves workplace harassment, discrimination, or retaliation, the statute of limitations occurs 1 year after the employee has the right to sue notice.
• If the claim involves a breach of oral contract, the statute of limitations is 2 years after the breach of contract.
• If the claim is regarding the employer’s failure to pay the employee wages, the statute of limitations is 3 years from the date of non-payment.
• If the claim is regarding a breach of a written contract, the employee has 4 years after the breach to bring forth the claim.
• Since employment law cases have several different complex scenarios, it can be very difficult in determining which category your claim falls under. Contact our employment law attorneys immediately to book a free no risk consultation where we could go over these different categories and figure out where your claim stands.

What if I had a contract with my employer?

If you signed an employment contract with your employer in California, you may have a claim against your employer for breach of contract. Your employer most likely drafted a contract, and you may not have had enough time to completely read the contract carefully. Your employment contract may state conditions such as discipline, job expectations, and job termination. Our experienced California attorneys are able to read and interpret your employment contract to best represent you and your employment rights.

Oftentimes, many employees are not aware of the different clauses in their contracts that could be unlawful. For example, many employees are not aware that there is a non-compete clause in their employment contracts. This is most likely to be found in managerial positions. A non-compete clause prevents the employee from leaving the employer and working for another competing business very similar to your employer. If you have found yourself wrongfully terminated, and had a non-compete clause in your contract, contact our attorneys.

Employment Law and Immigration

Under California labor laws, undocumented immigrants are still protected and could file a claim for unlawful immigration retaliation. Many undocumented immigrants who are employees are afraid of speaking out against their employers since they may think that their employers may not  renew their visa. If you are an undocumented immigrant, and you have been unfairly mistreated by your employer, contact our employment law attorneys to determine your rights. Immigrant employees enjoy almost the same exact rights as other employees. Illegal immigrants should not be retaliated against by their employers, and have a valid employment law claim against their employer if they are.

Employment Law Statutes

Other than wage and hour statutes, our attorneys also assist our clients and filing complaints with agencies such as:

• The United States Department of Labor
• The California Labor Commissioner
• The United States Equal Opportunity Commission
• The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing

Common Employment Law Cases

Our attorneys provide legal assistance for a variety of employment law cases, including, but not limited to:

• Equal pay
• Disability accommodations
• Harassment
• Housing discrimination
• Wrongful termination
• Whistleblower cases
• Retaliatory discharge
• Misclassification of employees (exempt, non-exempt, and independent contractors)
• Civil rights violations
• Workplace sexual harassment
• Employment counseling
• Employment training
• Employee discipline
• Employee rights
• Labor and employment law
• Non-Compete Agreement
• Employment class action
• Workplace discrimination (discrimination regarding race, religion, pregnancy, disability, gender identity, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, or marital status)
• Unlawful wage deductions
• Unlawful wage reductions
• Employee disputes
• Unemployment
• Employment contracts