News & Insights

In California, employees who believe they have been discriminated against or wrongfully terminated can file a claim under state law. However, employers often attempt to defend themselves by providing a nondiscriminatory reason for their actions, such as citing financial difficulties or poor performance. Human Resources departments typically play a significant role in documenting these reasons,…

Employment discrimination and harassment in California take various forms, encompassing issues related to gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and more. However, racial discrimination remains one of the most enduring and pervasive problems in workplaces across the state. The California Supreme Court recently addressed a significant issue: whether a single use of a racial slur at…

Workplaces in California can often be environments filled with interpersonal conflicts. While some disputes may stem from personality clashes or disagreements, others may escalate into unlawful treatment or discrimination, especially when superiors exploit their positions of power. Not every conflict in the workplace rises to this level, and it is the role of California courts…

California employment law provides robust protections for employees against discrimination, harassment, unlawful termination, and more. Importantly, the law also shields employees from retaliation when they raise complaints, attempt to resolve issues, or take other actions in response to workplace problems. Recently, a California Court of Appeal opinion clarified what is required for an employee’s retaliation…

There is a growing trend among employment rights advocates, legislatures, and some courts to weaken the power of employers to force employees into arbitration agreements. While such agreements are enforceable under many circumstances, there are cases where forced arbitration clauses have been rejected as unconscionable. In 2022, the U.S. Congress passed a law to protect…

In California, both public and private employees injured on the job are entitled to workers’ compensation insurance coverage. This coverage is designed to pay all or part of their wages while they are recovering from work-related injuries. However, to receive these benefits, employees must adhere to specific rules and guidelines, including attending medical appointments and…

California has some of the most employee-protective employment laws in the country. With the addition of the federal laws that protect employees nationwide, our state is one of the best states to be an employee. Unfortunately, not everyone is equally protected by our state’s employment laws. The California Court of Appeal recently issued a ruling…

A lesser-known trick that employers and corporations use to avoid employee-protection laws involves requiring prospective employees to enter into an agreement to pursue any claims against the employer through arbitration. Arbitration is a binding, non-judicial forum that addresses claims dressed under simplified rules and procedures, which can reduce the resources needed to address employee claims.…

When an employee brings a discrimination, harassment, or retaliation lawsuit, the employee and their employer often undergo discovery, through which both parties share relevant evidence with the opposing party. The law allows a few exceptions to discovery requirements, including attorney-client privilege and work product doctrine. A party does not have to share confidential communications with…

When a person files a lawsuit alleging employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, they often must introduce evidence to substantiate their claims. Plaintiffs must explain why their evidence is admissible. For example, courts often will not admit statements from someone who is not present during a trial or hearing if a party uses the out-of-court statement…