Have you been mistreated at work in Hermosa Beach, CA? If so, you may have a valid legal claim against your employer. Whether you’ve experienced discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, or other workplace misconduct, The Simon Law Group can help.
Our Hermosa Beach employment lawyers advocate for workers throughout California, aiming to ensure fair treatment. We have 250 years of combined legal experience and a team of skilled negotiators and top trial attorneys.
Contact us online or call (424) 722-3209 to set up a free consultation. During your appointment, you can discuss your employment law issue with a knowledgeable attorney in Hermosa Beach, California.
How Can The Simon Law Group Help With Your Workplace Dispute in Hermosa Beach, CA?
Whether you’ve already filed a claim against your employer or you’re thinking of initiating the process, you likely need legal representation.
Perhaps a state agency or your employer is pressuring you to resolve your claim quickly. Or you may not understand the procedural requirements and deadlines associated with your case. You may also be worried about standing up to your employer and how they’ll react.
The Simon Law Group can help you navigate this challenging process. We’ll use our knowledge of federal and California labor laws and firm resources to fight your claim and obtain justice.
If you hire our Hermosa Beach employment attorneys, you’ll have a fierce advocate to:
- Listen to what’s been happening at work and provide honest legal advice
- Identify all state and federal laws that apply to your employment case
- Collect evidence supporting your claim for damages
- Protect you from unlawful retaliation and take legal action if required
- Handle all documentation, communications, negotiations, and administrative requirements
- Monitor and adhere to all deadlines
- Represent you in all proceedings and court hearings as necessary
- Take your case to trial if it’s in your best interest
Don’t allow your California employer to take advantage of you, treat you unfairly, or engage in misconduct. You deserve an equitable and safe work environment. Let us help you set things right. Call for a free initial consultation with an experienced employment attorney in Hermosa Beach, California.
State and Federal Employment Laws That Could Impact Your Case in Hermosa Beach, California
Many federal and state laws are in place to protect employees in the workplace, including but not limited to:
- The Civil Rights Act of 1964
- The Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA)
- The Equal Pay Act of 1963 (EPA)
- The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA)
- The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978
- The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)
- The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA)
- The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)
- The California Family Rights Act (CFRA)
- The California Equal Pay Act
- The California Wage Theft Protection Act
- California workers’ compensation laws
- The California Healthy Workplace Healthy Family Act of 2014 (paid sick leave)
- California’s overtime provisions
- California minimum wage rules
You may have a labor or employment dispute claim under both state and federal laws, depending on the circumstances.
What Is Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate against job applicants or employees based on their membership in a protected class. Under the Act, protected classes include color, race, national origin, sex, and religion.
This federal anti-discrimination law applies to employers with 15 or more employees. It’s enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
What Is the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)?
The California Fair Employment and Housing Act is a state law that makes it unlawful for employment agencies, public and private employers, and labor organizations to discriminate against employees and job applicants based on a protected category.
Protected characteristics include:
- Race and color
- Ancestry and national origin
- Sex, gender, gender identity, and gender expression
- Sexual orientation
- Age (40 and older)
- Religion
- Mental and physical disabilities
- Medical condition
- Marital status
- Genetic information
- Veteran or military status
The anti-discrimination law applies to employers with at least five employees – meaning it covers more employers than Title VII. Additionally, it protects a broader range of workers because it includes more protected characteristics than the federal law.
The FEHA also prohibits harassment in the workplace, even if there are fewer than five employees.
The Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) enforces this law.
Types of Employment Law Claims in Hermosa Beach, CA
Not all work issues will lead to a valid claim. For example, a rude or demanding supervisor probably won’t rise to the level of misconduct. However, you do have rights as a worker. That’s why it’s crucial to consult an experienced California employment attorney if you think you’ve been mistreated.
A knowledgeable attorney can determine whether you have a valid case involving:
- Employment discrimination
- Wrongful termination
- Harassment
- Sexual harassment
- Unpaid wages
- Unpaid overtime
- Employer retaliation
- Whistleblower claims
- A workers’ compensation claim, including unfair practices, denial of benefits, and retaliation
- Violations of meal break requirements
- FMLA violations
- Hostile work environment
- Breach of an employment contract, such as a severance agreement or retention bonus agreement
Below, we discuss some of the most common employment law practice areas our Hermosa Beach labor lawyers handle.
Workplace Discrimination Claims
You have legal rights if your employer discriminates against you based on your membership in a protected class. That’s true whether it’s intentional discrimination or involves employment practices that have a discriminatory effect, such as a dress code.
Work discrimination can occur at any time, from recruitment to termination.
For example, the following could lead to a valid legal claim if the business practice or act is for a discriminatory purpose:
- Job advertisements and applications that preclude specific candidates based on a protected characteristic
- Denial of a job interview or professional opportunity
- Refusing to hire
- Denials of promotions
- Being paid less than other employees in the same position
- Intentional harassment
- Separating an employee from others
- Precluding an employee from training and other programs
- Providing fewer privileges and benefits than others
Contact our Hermosa Beach labor lawyers for guidance if you’re being treated differently than other employees and think it’s because of discrimination.
Workplace Harassment Claims
In California, it is unlawful for an employer to harass employees, job applicants, contractors, interns, or volunteers based on a protected class.
Harassment can take various forms; for example, sexual harassment could include:
- Sexual assault
- Indecent exposure
- Requesting sexual favors
- Making unwanted sexual advances or physical contact
- Offensive comments
- Retaliating for filing a sexual harassment claim
- Refusing to investigate sexual harassment complaints
Other forms of harassment include verbal abuse, racial slurs, creating a hostile work environment, and ridiculing based on a protected class.
Wrongful Termination Claims
The State of California implements at-will employment – meaning the employee or employer can typically terminate the relationship at any time without cause. However, an employer cannot fire you for an unlawful reason.
You may have been wrongfully terminated if you were let go due to:
- Discrimination
- Taking lawful leave, such as paid sick leave
- Requesting reasonable accommodation for a disability
- Refusing to engage in illegal company activities
- Filing a valid workers’ comp claim
- Whistleblowing
- Retaliation for reporting harassment or violations
You may also have a valid constructive discharge claim if your work environment was so intolerable or hostile that any reasonable person in your position would’ve quit.
What Types of Compensation Are Available in California Employment Law Cases?
The compensation you’re eligible to receive depends on the type of claim you file and the unique circumstances of your situation. We’ll need to evaluate what happened, the nature of your employer’s actions, and how the dispute has impacted your life.
The paramount goal is to resolve the issue and place you in a similar position as before the misconduct occurred.
Some potential legal remedies that may be available in a California employment case include:
- Back pay
- Lost income, such as if you accepted a lower-paying job
- Lost job benefits, such as PTO and medical benefits
- Reinstatement
- Promotion
- Reasonable accommodations
- Attorney’s fees and litigation expenses
- Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
- Non-economic damages, including emotional distress, embarrassment, inconvenience, and loss of reputation
- Punitive damages
Contact our employment lawyers in Hermosa Beach. During a free case assessment, we can provide more detailed information regarding the damages you may be entitled to under federal and/or California law.
How Long Do I Have To File an Employment Complaint in California?
The deadline to file a California employment claim will vary depending on the type of case you’re bringing and whether it falls under state or federal law.
For example, you may have as little as 180 days to file a federal discrimination claim with the EEOC. However, for California claims, you may have anywhere between six months and three years to file a claim, depending on various factors.
It’s vital that you speak with a Hermosa Beach labor attorney as soon as possible. Even if you have plenty of time, you should start the process sooner rather than later.
Documentary evidence could be lost or destroyed over time. Your coworkers (eyewitnesses) may leave the company. Contact us today to get started.
Schedule a Free Case Evaluation With Our Hermosa Beach Employment Lawyers
If you’re a victim of workplace misconduct in Hermosa Beach, CA, The Simon Law Group can help. Contact our California employment lawyers to discuss what you’ve experienced. We offer a free, no-obligation evaluation.
