Los Angeles County

It can be difficult for laypeople to know whether they have been subject to discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or wage and hour violations. Sometimes an employer commits violations without realizing what the law says, while in other cases, an employer intentionally wrongs an employee. You may feel alone and worried about whether or not to pursue justice. It’s important to seek tenacious Los Angeles County employment lawyers to represent you. The Calderone Law Firm uses insights gained over two decades of experience to fight companies on our clients’ behalf. In the course of a consultation in which we learn the specific facts of your case, we may be able to let you know whether you have a viable basis to sue your employer.

Discrimination is actionable when an employer takes an adverse step against you in the workplace based on a trait that is protected under federal laws like Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or the Americans with Disabilities Act, or the state law, the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Adverse steps that count as discrimination include any significant decision made on the job such as those pertaining to job interviews, job applications, hirings, promotions, participation in training programs, demotions, and terminations. In most cases FEHA provides greater protection than federal law does; you are protected under FEHA if you work for an employer with at least 5 employees. Traits that are protected include age over 40, disability, medical condition, genetic information, request for family care leave, request for pregnancy disability, race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and marital status.

Federal and state laws provide numerous protections for nonexempt employees. These wage and hour protections include rules related to minimum wage, overtime, equipment, and meal and rest breaks. One common violation is wage theft, which can occur if your employer asks you to work off the clock or withholds payment in the form of salary, wages, bonuses or sick pay. While there are legal remedies for wage theft, the damages in those cases can be minor, making it difficult to find a lawyer to pursue an individual claim. However, when multiple employees experience similar violations, it might be appropriate to file a class action lawsuit. These lawsuits are complex, and a certification process is involved. It is critical to call our seasoned Los Angeles County attorneys for representation, if you find out that your employer has committed wage theft or other violations against you and other employees.

Employees are often the ones with a front row seat to their employer’s legal misconduct. It can be anxiety-provoking to witness this misconduct because you may feel too intimidated by your employer to report it. You may be worried that your employer will punish you for reporting the illegal or otherwise wrongful acts. However, federal law and California law forbid retaliation against whistleblowers; this means you can pursue legal remedies in a lawsuit if you are subject to retaliation. You are even protected against retaliation if it turns out you were incorrect that the employer had acted illegally or otherwise committed misconduct, so long as you reported the behavior with a good faith belief that there was misconduct.

Often companies possess greater resources than their employees do. This means they can hire knowledgeable attorneys to represent them. It’s important to level the playing field with experienced legal counsel of your own. Call the seasoned Los Angeles County attorneys of Calderone Law Firm about your situation. Our founder, Vincent Calderone, brings to bear more than 20 years of experience representing employees. We represent clients in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Malibu, West Hollywood, and Inglewood. Please contact us online or call us at (424) 348-8290.