Desert Hot Springs Employment Lawyer For Employees
Your job is a big part of your life and is how you support yourself in your family. Statistics indicate that about 90,000 hours of our lives are spent at work. It is important to understand that as a worker in California, you have many protected rights. If you know your rights, you can ensure that your employer does not violate them. If you believe that your employer is violating any California work-related laws, contact the Law Office of Karen J. Sloat to discuss your claim. Our Desert Hot Springs employment lawyers have been working in California for decades and understand how important it is that the hard-working people of Riverside County and the Coachella Valley have a strong legal representative. Call us at 760-779-1313.
Common Violations in the Workplace in Desert Hot Springs
Some common forms of workplace violations include discrimination, harassment, misclassification of employees, and hour and wage violations. An employer who engages in any of these wrongful acts is liable to its employees.
Desert Hot Springs Discrimination Claims
If you work in Desert Hot Springs, California, and you believe that an employer failed to hire you, terminated your employment, or otherwise made negative decisions about your employment because of your status in a protected class, you may have a claim against that employer. Protected employee classes include age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, and pregnancy, among others. If you believe your employer discriminated against you in the workplace, contact an employment law attorney today.
Harassment Claims in Desert Hot Springs
When people think of workplace harassment, they often think of sexual harassment. However, there are multiple forms of illegal workplace harassment other than sexual harassment. Any harassment based on the following is against the law in California:
- Race
- Religion
- Color
- National Origin
- Ancestry
- Mental or Physical Disability
- Medical Condition
- Genetic Information
- Disability
- Ancestry
- Sex
- Gender
- Gender Expression and Gender Identity
- Marital Status
- Sexual Orientation
- Age
- Military or Veteran Status
If your workplace is hostile because of harassment based on any of the above, contact our Desert Hot Springs, California employment law attorneys today.
Misclassification of Desert Hot Springs Employees
Employees are entitled to certain benefits, including health benefits, retirement benefits, and protections from workers’ compensation insurance. Independent contractors are not entitled to these same benefits. Several factors determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. Essentially, a worker who is paid hourly, works full-time for a company, whose work-related equipment is paid for by that company, and who is heavily supervised by their employer is likely an employee and not an independent contractor. Courts will look at other factors as well in determining whether a person is an employee or an independent contractor. Independent contractors function as their own business, provide their own equipment, and typically work with little supervision and are paid per project or job. Incorrectly classifying an employee as an independent contractor denies the employee certain benefits to which they are entitled. If you believe your employer misclassified you as an independent contractor when you should have been considered an employee, contact an employment law attorney to learn your legal options.
Wage and Hour Disputes in Desert Hot Springs
Employers who fail to pay their employees the hourly minimum wage or mandatory overtime pay or who fail to provide the breaks to which employees are entitled can face complaints from employees and might be required to provide back pay and pay fines for those violations. If your employer is failing to pay you all of your wages, contact a Desert Hot Springs, California employment law attorney for immediate help.
Desert Hot Springs Employment Contracts
If your employer asks you to sign an employment contract, it is a good idea to have an attorney review that contract to ensure that it protects your rights as an employee. Additionally, if you are asked to sign a severance agreement, having an attorney review that agreement will help you better understand what you are agreeing to and ensure that the agreement is in your best interests.
Employment contracts that define the terms of a person’s relationship with their employer may detail steps the employer must take fire the employee. If an employer violates such a contract, the employee may have a claim against that employer. Once you enter a contract with your employer, both you and the employer are bound by the contract terms. A breach of contract by either party is a violation of the law.
Severance agreements offer an employee an amount of money in exchange for that employee forfeiting the right to file certain claims against the employer at the time of the employee’s termination. Employers are not required to offer any severance pay or severance agreement to employees, but in many cases, employers will enter such agreements to protect the company from legal actions. If you sign the severance agreement, you might forfeit your ability to file a civil claim against that company for something such as harassment or discrimination. In order to better understand any contract you are entering with your employer, or if you believe that your employer has violated a contract which you entered, contact a Desert Hot Springs, California employment law attorney.
Desert Hot Springs Employees, Call Law Office of Karen J. Sloat Today
At the Law Office of Karen J. Sloat, our attorneys understand how complicated disputes between employers and employees can be and how frightening it might be for an employee to challenge his or her employer. Remember that, as a worker in California, you have rights. Call us today at 760-779-1313 for a consultation with one of our dedicated Desert Hot Springs employment law attorneys.
