If you ever feel like your rights as an employee are being threatened or infringed upon, you need to take the right legal action. There is nothing worse than feeling powerless when employment issues arise. While only 54% of those that report harassment at work have their problems resolved, it’s never good to turn a blind eye to such instances.
Fortunately, help is available to protect yourself and ensure that your legal rights as an employee are upheld. Los Angeles is a place where laws protect employees, and each employee should be aware of them if they want to protect their rights.
Let’s explore those rights below and what you can do to protect them.
Which Laws Protect You Against Employer Discrimination
California is known for its progressive and comprehensive approach to protecting all workforce members from workplace discrimination and harassment. Its laws are among the nation’s most formidable, ensuring employees have access to a safe working environment.
For example, the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) bans discrimination against employees on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, and marital status. FEHA also provides harassment prevention training to all California employers with more than five employees. Additionally, the state prohibits any form of retaliation for reporting discrimination or harassment in the workplace.
While the laws, in fact, protect all Los Angeles employees, that does not mean that there is no discrimination. If you are ever a subject of discrimination in your workplace, you have to take action. Do not hesitate to find the best employment discrimination lawyers in Los Angeles and protect your rights.
Common Unlawful Practices Employers Use To Take Advantage of Workers
Employers use many methods to take advantage of their employees, and you should be aware of when you are taken advantage of. For instance, an employer might try to pay you a wage that’s below the minimum. However, as of January 1, 2023, the minimum wage in Los Angeles is $15.50 per hour. Anything less than that is unacceptable and should be reported.
Another way an employer may cause trouble for an employee is by accusing them of committing a crime at the workplace, such as theft or fraud. While this is unusual, it can still happen, and being wrongfully accused can lead to a lot of consequences on your end if you do not act quickly. In such cases, it is important to seek legal assistance from a Los Angeles criminal defense lawyer who can help protect your rights and hold the employer accountable for their wrongful allegations.
Another more common way an employer may take advantage of employees is to force them to work overtime without compensating them accordingly. California law provides a strong guarantee of overtime pay for all employees, ensuring compensation after eight hours in a day or 40 in a week. If your employer is not paying you overtime, they may be violating state labor laws, and you could be entitled to compensation.
Why You Need to Know Your Rights
If you feel like your rights as an employee have been infringed upon, it is essential to be aware of the legal options available for pursuing justice and protecting yourself. This could involve filing a complaint with the relevant government agency, or a civil lawsuit against the party responsible for violating your rights.
Laws or policies might be in place to provide additional protections and remedies specific to the violation you experienced. Regardless of how you decide to proceed, educating yourself on available legal resources is the first step in getting justice for any grievances.
Every Los Angeles resident should be familiar with the Fair Employment and Housing Act and how it protects them at work. As mentioned above, it is an act that protects employees from harassment and discrimination in the workplace, but there are many more points to it. Understanding this act can help you protect your rights and ensure that you are in a safe and respectable working environment.
Bottom Line
Protecting your rights as an employee in Los Angeles can be difficult. It requires knowledge of the laws, partnering with a trusted lawyer if needed, and having the confidence to stand up for yourself. If you feel you are being violated, it is important to take legal action.
