Glendale Employee Rights 2024 – What Every Worker Should Know?

If you’re hired to work a job in California, you have certain rights that your employer must respect. Discrimination, harassment, and wage violations in the workplace are prohibited under state law. An employer’s failure to ensure their business practices do not violate California employment laws could be grounds for legal claims against them. To avoid being exploited by unethical employers, every worker should understand their Glendale employee rights.

Laws to Protect Workers in California

Workers are protected by laws set forth by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing within the Civil Rights Department of the state of California. The Fair Employment and Housing Act, or FEHA, is designed to safeguard workers from harassment and discrimination by their employers, whether they are public or private employers, employment agencies, or labor organizations.

FEHA prohibits employers from harassing their employees or allowing harassment to happen to workers in their business. FEHA also makes it illegal for employers who have more than five workers to discriminate against potential job applicants and employees who are part of certain protected categories. Examples of protected characteristics in California include:

• Ancestry or country of origin
• Military or veteran status
• Genetic information
• Religious beliefs or affiliation
• Mental or physical disabilities and medical conditions
• Sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Marital status

If you believe your employer is harassing you or discriminating against you based on a protected characteristic, you don’t have to tolerate it. The laws in California allow you to take action against this type of treatment by an employer. Depending on the circumstances of the alleged harassment or discrimination, an employee could be entitled to file a claim for backpay, punitive damages, and damages for emotional distress in certain cases.

Steps in the Complaint Process Against Workplace Discrimination

The first step in proceeding with an official complaint against a discriminatory employer is to file a Pre-Complaint Inquiry with the California Civil Rights Department, or CRD, through the Department of Fair Employment and Housing. For employment cases, you must file within a certain time frame after you were harmed. The department will then conduct an investigation and review the specific details of the alleged incident.

During this investigation, they will likely review any records related to the discrimination and statements from individuals involved. The CRD may then issue you a Right-to-Sue notice. Navigating the legal processes in California can be confusing for some, so hiring an attorney who has employment law experience could be beneficial for your case.

When Employers Retaliate Against Employees Who Take Action

If you took action to stop harassment or discrimination based on protected characteristics and are now facing retaliation from your employer, you have the right to take additional legal action. Whistleblowers are protected by several laws in California. Fear of retaliation may prevent many from filing a claim against their employer. However, acts of retaliation could allow employees to seek additional compensation for their losses.

Other Workers’ Rights in California

Employment laws in California do not only protect employees from harassment and discrimination. The State of California Department of Industrial Relations, or DIR, outlines additional rights that workers have in the state. The DIR outlines workers’ rights for the following:

• As of January 1, 2024, all employers must pay a minimum wage of $16 an hour or more, depending on location within the state, in addition to certain overtime pay requirements.
• Employers must provide paid and unpaid breaks based on the number of hours an employee works.
• Health and safety. Employers in California must protect their workers’ health and safety and provide compensation for workplace injuries and illnesses.

Consult with an employment law attorney if you believe your employer’s business practices are not in line with the workers’ rights requirements as outlined by the DIR.

FAQs

Q: What Are Some Rights You Have as an Employee?

A: As an employee, some rights you have include the right to a workplace that is free from harassment or discrimination based on protected characteristics such as your race, gender or gender identity, religion, or medical conditions. In California, you also have the right as an employee to earn a minimum wage of at least $16 an hour or more, depending on location in the state, as of January 1, 2024. Talk to an attorney if you believe your workers’ rights were violated.

Q: What Is Considered a Hostile Work Environment in California?

A: In California, a work environment is considered hostile when an employer knowingly allows an employee to experience severe or pervasive discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics of the employee. If you believe you’re employed in a hostile work environment, the laws in California allow you to take action by filing a claim against your employer and seeking compensation.

Q: Can I File a Claim Against My Employer for Emotional Distress in California?

A: Yes, you can file a claim against your employer for emotional distress in California. The laws in California allow employees to file suit against their employers if they are emotionally distressed due to harassment or discrimination because of their protected characteristics in the workplace. If you’re uncertain about whether or not your case qualifies you to seek compensation for emotional distress, talk to an attorney who is familiar with employment law in California.

Q: How Do I File a Toxic Work Environment Complaint?

A: To file a toxic work environment complaint in California, you can start by filing with the Department of Fair Employment and Housing as part of the California Civil Rights Department. They will launch an investigation into your case and could issue you a Right-to-Sue notice to proceed with seeking legal action to correct the toxic work environment.

Standing Up for Workers’ Rights in California

Maralle Messrelian at MM Law compassionately defends workers’ rights by employing her extensive knowledge of California employment laws. The team at MM Law is dedicated to achieving justice. We understand that workers are too often taken advantage of by their employers, and we are committed to empowering employees through legal action. Contact MM Law today to schedule a consultation.