Employment Attorneys in Encino

Many employees don’t realize that they have an extra layer of legal protection in the workplace. These additional rights ensure that employees are treated fairly and not getting taken advantage of. Thus, their legal rights must be honored at all costs, and any violation of these rights requires our experienced legal representation.

At Williams And Seemen, our employment lawyers champion your best interests every step of the way. We understand how frustrating it can be to feel mistreated at work, especially from the people who are supposed to help you rather than hurt you. As such, we are ready to advocate for your rights and work to ensure you don’t experience a violation of your employment rights in the future.

Schedule your free consultation by calling (818) 536-7776 so we can help you overcome your situation.

Can You be Fired for no Reason in California?

You can be fired for no reason in California because California is an at-will state, which implies that at any moment, with or without reason, an employer can terminate you for any reason. This means that if your employer doesn’t like your personality, if you run out of work, if your employer thinks you’re lazy or they just don’t want staff anymore, they can fire you at any moment. Most employee handbooks contain a disclaimer of at-will employment. Most handbooks describe at-will and require an employee to sign an acknowledgment of the company’s at-will status. However, for purposes that are illegal under state and federal law, an at-will employee has a right not to be terminated. Even though you can be fired for no reason at any time, you still can not be fired for illegal reasons.

Understanding Your Rights as an Employee

As an employee in California, it's important to understand your rights and protections under state and federal employment laws. Our experienced employment attorneys at Williams And Seemen can provide you with the knowledge and guidance you need to navigate the complexities of employment law.

Some key areas to be aware of include:

• At-will employment laws in California
• Protections against workplace discrimination
• Legal recourse for wrongful termination
• Whistleblower protection under the law

Whether you are facing a challenging employment situation or simply want to be proactive in protecting your rights, our team is here to provide you with the support and advocacy you deserve. We serve workers throughout Encino, and the surrounding areas. When you work with us, we will protect and keep you well-informed of your rights!

Federal Employment Law Overview

The US Department of Labor (DOL) handles mandates and regulations that cover workplace activities for entities like businesses, job seekers, workers, retirees, grantees and contractors. Major employment laws include, but are not limited to:

• Wages and hours
• Workplace safety and health
• Workers’ compensation
• Unions and their members
• Garnishment of wages

Equal Employment Opportunity laws are among the most widely known employment laws. They prohibit job discrimination in certain workplaces and must be treated very seriously. As a result, employers have various responsibilities for their employees, such as ensuring no discriminatory actions and behaviors are occurring in the workplace. If an employer has failed to perform this critical duty, you can turn to our proven lawyers to fight for justice on your behalf.

Our employment attorneys are well-versed in defending clients who experience the following employment law violations:

• Workplace discrimination
  • Age, disability, equal pay/compensation, genetic information, harassment, national origin, pregnancy, race/color, religion, retaliation, sex and sexual harassment
• Wrongful termination
• Whistleblower laws

Workplace Discrimination

Workplace discrimination comes in various forms, all of which are unethical and illegal. As mentioned above, examples of workplace discrimination include sex, age, race and religion, and can come from your co-workers, supervisors or even clients and customers.

The following includes definitions and examples for some types of discrimination you may experience in the workplace:

• Age discrimination is harassing a person because of their age. Legal protection for such employees only applies to those who are 40 and older. An example includes making offensive or derogatory remarks so often that it results in a hostile work environment or an unfavorable decision such as firing or demoting the victim.
• Disability discrimination is when an employer covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act or the Rehabilitation Act treats a qualified disabled employee negatively because of their disability, history of a disability, or they believe that an employee has a mental or physical impairment that’s not transitory or minor. An example includes failing to accommodate an employee’s disability, such as not installing wheelchair ramps in and around an office.
• Harassment is unwanted conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. The conduct must be serious enough that it creates an offensive or hostile work environment. Examples include physical and verbal assaults or threats, offensive jokes and slurs, intimidation and interference with work performance.
• Race/color discrimination is treating a person poorly because of their race or characteristics associated with their race, or if they’re married to someone of a certain race. An example includes making offensive remarks about a person’s color to the extent that they feel unsafe coming to work.
• Religious discrimination is treating a person poorly or differently because of their religious beliefs. An example includes moving an employee to a position that has little to no interaction with clients and customers because they wear a turban or hijab as part of their religious practice.
• Sex-based discrimination is harassing someone based on their sex or gender identity. Examples can include sexual harassment or unwelcome sexual advances as well as frequent offensive comments about a person’s LGBTQ+ identity.

Don’t suffer at the hands of the people who should protect you. Call (818) 536-7776 now!

Wrongful Termination

If you believe you were wrongfully terminated due to discrimination outlined under the Equal Employment Opportunity law or for whistleblower activities, among other reasons, let us know. You should not have to suffer the loss of your job for something that isn’t your fault or out of your control.

However, if you are an at-will employee, you can be fired from your job at any point and for any reason. Thus, you must be mindful of your contractual relationship with your employer before taking legal action against them.

Whistleblower Protection Act

According to the Office of Inspector General, “The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 prohibits reprisal. It is unlawful for agencies to take or threaten to take a personnel action against an employee because he or she disclosed wrongdoing.” This means that you cannot receive a poor performance review, demotion, suspension, termination or other forms of retaliation for reporting allegations against the unethical and/or unlawful actions occurring within your organization.

Let Us Protect Your Rights

When you retain Williams And Seemen to represent you, we will take the time to listen to and closely examine your needs and explain your legal options in detail. From there, we can devise an effective legal strategy that pursues damages and remedies while tirelessly litigating for the best possible outcome on your behalf. It doesn't matter where you are in the Encino area, we are ready to help.

Our team takes your concerns seriously and genuinely care about your success. Please schedule your free case review online or by calling (818) 536-7776 as soon as possible. We’re ready to fight.