California Employment Laws
Four Things New Employees Should Be Aware Of
Employees in California need to be aware that the state has special employment laws in place to protect employees and to provide them with mutual aid and protection. Generally speaking, California employers should respect the rights of their employees. A violation of these rights might result in a number of penalties being imposed on them.
As a result, new workers to the state should take the time to familiarize themselves with a few of the state’s most common employment laws.
In this article, we will review a few topics that new employees need to know about regarding California employment laws.
Workers Have a Right to Humane Working Conditions
Workers in California are entitled to certain humane working conditions under California employment laws. These are some examples:
Wages: Depending on the size of the company, the minimum wage varies. It would be $14 per hour if a company had 25 or fewer employees. A company with 26 or more employees must provide a minimum wage of $15 per hour.
Overtime: Employers must pay employees overtime for any hours worked after eight hours in a workday, 40 hours in a workweek, and six days in a workweek.
Rest and Food Breaks: Employers shall give rest and meal breaks to employees who work more than 3.5 hours per day.
Sick Leave: Employers must offer employees with paid sick leave ranging from 24 hours to three days per year if they become ill. They are, nonetheless, required to provide employees with a limited amount of unpaid time off to care for a sick family member.
Rights to a Safe Workplace: Under California employment law, employers are required to provide employees with a safe working environment. They must maintain work equipment, inspect work sites for potentially hazardous conditions, and address unsafe working conditions in the workplace.
Employees in California are protected against discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Employees are protected from discrimination and retaliation, in addition to having humane working conditions. Employers, for example, are prohibited from discriminating against workers based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, ethnicity, and other protected classes. If an employee is the victim of workplace discrimination, he or she can file a lawsuit against the company with the assistance of an employment lawyer.
Furthermore, employees in California have the right to be protected against sexual harassment at work. If the at-fault party creates a hostile environment by engaging in inappropriate behavior or offers job-related perks in exchange for a sexual favor, they can pursue a lawsuit.
Employers, on the other hand, are not permitted to retaliate against workers for reporting violations of state and federal employment laws, requesting accommodation for their conditions, such as disability, or filing a complaint against discrimination and harassment.
Workers May Not Be Fired Intentionally
In California, the employer-employee relationship is often based on an at-will basis. It means that one of them can terminate employment at any moment for any cause. However, not all employees can be employed on an at-will basis. This is especially true if they have contracts specifying when their employment will end.
If the employment agreement stipulates that workers must be given a warning before being terminated, they must follow that requirement by providing proper notice ahead of time.
New employees should be aware that employers may be held accountable for wrongful termination if they terminate employment for any of the following reasons:
- Notifying an employer of a job injury
- Making a claim for workers’ compensation
- Enforcing their right to take time off
- Carrying out whistleblower actions
Workers in California have other important rights under the state’s labor laws.
Working in California entitles employees to a variety of employment rights under the state’s labor laws. These are some examples:
- Employees should be paid in cash or by check without incurring any fees.
- Employees are entitled to final or severance compensation if they are terminated or resign with sufficient notice.
- Employees with disabilities have the right to request that their employers provide reasonable accommodations for them.
- Employees who are pregnant or giving birth have the right to reasonable accommodations, such as altered work schedules and tasks.
- After submitting a formal request, employees have the right to see their personnel files.
California Labor Lawyers: Fighting for Fairness and Justice in the Workplace
If you believe your rights as an employee in California have been violated, call us at (858) 365-9722 or contact us online for a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation.