California Employee Rights You Should Know

Going through a conflict with your employer can be challenging. Unfortunately, many companies in California may violate employee rights implicating discrimination, unemployment, wages, and more. If this happens to you, it is critical to understand your legal rights and take action to protect your interests and freedoms. Speak to our Inland Empire employment attorney at Law Office of Joseph Richards, P.C., for a free consultation regarding potential legal advice.

California Worker Rights

If you work in California, you are the beneficiary of some of the country’s most protective worker rights laws. Federal law sets minimum standards for employee rights, but Californians enjoy additional rights and benefits related to discrimination, harassment, time off, and more. Important worker rights that every Californian enjoys include:

Employment Discrimination

California has some of the most protective laws protecting you against employment discrimination. The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects you from discrimination based on race, gender, disability, age (if you are over 40), and veteran status. FEHA rules against discrimination usually apply to companies with at least five employees. Speak to an employment attorney in the Inland Empire if you are not sure if this law applies to your company.

Additionally, you are protected against workplace discrimination by federal laws. However, the number of protected groups in these laws is narrower than in California. These laws include:

The Civil Rights Act of 1964
The Americans with Disabilities Act
The Equal Pay Act of 1963
The Age Discrimination Act

California employers also may not discriminate against you for being pregnant, giving birth, or having any related medical issues related to pregnancy. The law also bans employers from denying or interfering with your pregnancy-related rights in the workplace. Your employer also must do the following related to pregnancy:

Provide reasonable accommodations for your medical requirements for being pregnant or giving birth. For example, your company must modify your work duties temporarily, if necessary, offer you a chair to sit in, allow for more frequent bathroom breaks, etc.
Move you to a less physically strenuous position if you have special needs related to pregnancy.
Provide pregnancy disability leave for up to four months. Your job must be there when you are no longer disabled because of pregnancy. However, your employer also can put you in a comparable position. Note that taking paid leave will not protect you from everyday employment actions, such as layoffs. Pregnancy disability is not automatically four months; your doctor will determine the time you need off, up to four months.
Offer a reasonable break time and use of an area to pump breast milk if desired.

Also, you may be entitled to leave under the California Family Rights Act of 1993 if you have been employed for more than 12 months for at least 1,250 hours before the day you want to take leave. Your leave can take up to 12 work weeks to give birth or adopt a child in one year. The law only mandates unpaid leave, but your employer may require you to use accrued paid leave when taking this leave of absence.

Workers’ Compensation

If you are hurt in California, your employer must pay for reasonably necessary medical care for illnesses and injuries related to your work. This is known as workers’ compensation. One of the benefits of California’s workers’ compensation laws is it does not matter who is at fault for the injury. Therefore, you may also be entitled to workers’ compensation regardless of your immigrant status.

Those who are hurt at work and who face discrimination or retaliation for filing a claim for workers’ comp may want to speak to an Inland Empire employment attorney.

Wages And Breaks

California employers must pay employees what they are owed and offer meal and rest breaks. Withholding wages is wage theft, and you should speak to an employment attorney if that happens.

As of Jan. 1, 2023, the minimum wage in California is $15.50 per hour. Previously, the pay differed based on whether the company had 25 or fewer employees or 26 or more. Today, the wage is the same.

If you are paid by contract or day, your wages are equal to at least the minimum wage for all hours worked. Note that tips are separate, and your employer cannot count them as part of regular wages. However, a few types of workers do not have to get the minimum wage, including some sales professionals, camp counselors, and close members of the family.

Overtime must be paid at a rate of 1.5 times the regular wage. For most jobs, any hours over eight in a day or 40 in a week must be paid overtime. Also, if you work over 12 hours daily, you may be entitled to double time.

Safety And Health

Your employer is required by law to keep workers safe on the job. Some of the safety and health requirements under California law are:

Ensuring the workplace is safe by finding and fixing health and safety risks promptly.
A written workplace health and safety program, sometimes called an Injury and Illness Prevention Program.
Informing employees about hazards in the workplace and providing training on workplace safety.
Provide workers’ compensation insurance and compensation for medical bills for job-related illnesses and injuries.
Tracking all job-related injuries and illnesses that need more treatment than first aid. Some California employers also must log illnesses and injuries and post summaries.

Furthermore, California and OSHA regulations state what California employers must do to protect employees from specific dangers. These regulations are listed in Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations and the State of California Department of Industrial Relations. Employers must follow these rules; if they do not, the state or OSHA can fine them.

Contact Our Inland Empire Employment Attorney

All California workers need to know their employee rights in the workplace. If you think your rights have been violated at work regarding the protections mentioned in this article, you do not have to tolerate it. Speak to our Inland Empire employment attorney by calling to schedule an appointment for a free consultation today at Law Office of Joseph Richards, P.C. at (888) 883-6588.