Orange County Employment Lawyers Blog

Senate Approves Employee Non-Discrimination Act: House Response Hangs in the Balance

December 2, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

According to a recent news report from ABC the Senate has approved the Employee Non-Discrimination Act in a 64-32 vote. This is encouraging news for rights in the workplace but the House of Representatives has yet to act on the measure.

Our LBGT discrimination attorneys know that sexual orientation and gender identity have been an important topic in the United States for a long time but have just recently made critical strides.

The approval of the Non-Discrimination Act by the United States Senate comes about 17 years after a similar anti-discrimination act failed by a single vote.

Employers Use Social Media to Discriminate in Hiring

November 30, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

According to a report on Wall Street Journal’s website, Employers are using information they find about job applicants online to make discriminatory hiring decisions under the radar.

Our Los Angeles employment discrimination attorneys know that employers are utilizing social networking sites to research potential hires and make discriminatory hiring decisions. These practices may violate federal and state laws.

It is well known that employers are using social media to screen applicants. Employers may view Facebook pages or other social media interaction for a variety of reasons.

Illegal Retaliation Against California Wal-Mart Workers

November 28, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

The Grio Reports that the National Labor Relations Board ruled that the retail giant Wal-mart, violated employee rights when it unlawfully threatened employees if they engaged in a protests or strikes.

Employment lawyers in Los Angeles are dedicated to ensuring that employees are not punished for asserting their rights under state and federal employment laws.

Wal-Mart retaliated against employees who were exercising their civil rights.

How Your Employer should Handle Race Discrimination Complaints

November 25, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

Race Discrimination is a serious problem across various industries in the United States.

Although Employers should be aware of how to handle discrimination complaints, the employment lawyers in Orange County know that many employers do not take appropriate steps to combat race discrimination in the workplace.

If approached with a race discrimination complaint employers should keep an open mind. A problem arises when employers have difficulty accepting that harassment or discrimination could be happening on their watch.

Baby Boomer Age Discrimination Rampant

November 22, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

Age discrimination is an expanding problem for baby boomers, according to the National Federal of Independent Business.

A California age discrimination lawsuit may be a possibility if you are an individual who was discriminated against on the basis of your age.

The job market has been difficult for employees of all ages but older workers find themselves out of work at a significant rate.

Wage and Hour Lawsuits in California, Elsewhere, on the Rise: Report

November 18, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

Wage and hour lawsuits are reportedly outpacing many other types of employment litigation in California and throughout the country, according to a new report by the Institute for Legal Reform.

According to the report, wage and hour litigation has expanded significantly in recent years – and shows few signs of stopping.

Between 2007 and 2012, there was reportedly a total of $2.7 billion paid out in wage-and-hour lawsuits. Of that, approximately $470 million was paid out in 2012 alone, the report indicated. An average of $4.8 million was paid out per case.

California Age Discrimination Lawsuit Finds Fire Department Under Fire

November 16, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

A California age discrimination lawsuit brought by 15 firefighters who previously worked for the City of San Francisco has resulted in a victory and an order to pay the workers a total of $3.7 million.

The case is noteworthy for the simple fact of how much was awarded, but also because age discrimination cases tend to be tougher to prove than some other forms of harassment. The success of this case proves that workers who have faced inequitable treatment due to their age should not automatically assume their claim would be a lost cause.

A consultation with an experienced Costa Mesa employment lawyer can help you decide whether filing suit is the best course of action.

California Sexual Harassment Lawsuits Prompt Calls for More Training

November 13, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

Two separate cases of sexual harassment filed against top-level city officials in Los Angeles has prompted two council members to urge changes in the city’s anti-harassment training courses.

Our Costa Mesa sexual harassment lawyers understand that for the City of Los Angeles, like many other places of employment, sexual harassment training is mandated for managers – and managers only.

The proposal made by the city’s Council President Herb Wesson and Councilwoman Nury Martinez would make it a requirement for all city employees. Additionally, rather than have the training be a two-hour online course, as it is currently, the sessions would require in-person attendance.

Employment Non-Discrimination Act to Be Weighed by Congress

November 11, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

A federal push to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees is quickly gaining steam among lawmakers, with all but two Democrats in the Senate signing on to co-sponsor the legislation.

Our Costa Mesa LBGT discrimination attorneys know that in California, it is illegal to discriminate a worker or potential worker on the basis of one’s sexual orientation or gender identity. We are fortunate to have one of the most comprehensive protection laws in the country.

However, while federal employment law protects workers from discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, age, disability or nationality, it does not shield workers who face adverse employment action as a result of their LGBT status. This is a gaping hole in terms of worker protections, and one that legislators appear finally poised to close.

Family Medical Leave Act Expansion Mulled by Lawmakers

November 7, 2013 | by Nassiri Law

It’s been two decades since lawmakers passed legislation that would protect employees who were coping with a serious illness or family adjustment, either personally or in their immediate family.

Today, our employment lawyers in California understand the law, the Family and Medical Leave Act, better known as FMLA, is continuing to evolve.

The way the law is currently written, workers at companies with more than 50 employees are entitled to receive up to 12 work weeks of leave off in a period of 12 months for one of the following reasons: