San Fernando Valley Employment Lawyer

Expert San Fernando Valley Employment Lawyer: Your Legal Advocate

Navigating employment law issues, from discrimination and harassment to wage disputes and wrongful termination, can be daunting. However, employees in the San Fernando Valley benefit from comprehensive employment laws that provide protection at both the federal and state levels. These laws ensure fair treatment, prevent discrimination, and uphold workers’s rights.

If you believe your employer violated one of these rights, it may be time to call the San Fernando Valley employment lawyers at Starpoint Law. 

Understanding Employment Law

California employees are protected by a robust framework of employment laws at the federal and state levels. Several key federal employment laws protect workers’s rights across the country, including:

• The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA sets standards for minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and youth employment. The law applies to most employees in the United States.
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. It applies to employers with 15 or more employees, including state and local governments.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including employment, and applies to employers with 15 or more employees.
• The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). The ADEA protects individuals 40 or older from employment discrimination based on age and applies to employers with 20 or more employees.

In addition to federal protections, California has passed several laws ensuring workers’s protection. The Golden State has some of the country’s most comprehensive and employee-friendly labor laws. 

• The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Similar to Title VII, FEHA prohibits employment discrimination based on protected categories such as race, religion, gender, and disability. However, FEHA applies to smaller employers with five or more employees.
• Wage and hour laws. California has its own wage and hour laws, including a higher minimum wage than the federal standard, requirements for meal and rest breaks, and overtime pay rules that are more protective of employees.
• Family and medical leave laws. California’s Family Rights Act (CFRA) provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain family and medical reasons, including the birth or adoption of a child and serious health conditions.
• Worker’s compensation. California law requires most employers to carry worker’s compensation insurance to cover injured employees.

These laws are crucial for employers and employees in the San Fernando Valley to understand and comply with to ensure fair and lawful employment practices. An experienced San Fernando Valley employment lawyer, like one of the team members at Starpoint Law, can help determine what protections you are entitled to. 

Aidin Ghavimi - Employment Lawyer Helping Those in San Fernando Valley

Mr. Ghavimi received his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from USC, with Honors. He received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. While at Loyola, Mr. Ghavimi Externed with the Hon. Chief Judge George H. King in the United States District Court, Central District of California.

Learn More About Aidin Ghavimi

Common Employment Law Disputes

Although there are several issues employees may run into at work, some are more common. 

Discrimination in the Workplace

Federal and California law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or pregnancy. Employees have the right to a workplace free from discriminatory practices, including hiring, promotion, and termination decisions.

Harassment and Hostile Work Environments

In California, harassment based on protected characteristics such as race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or pregnancy is illegal.

Harassment includes unwelcome conduct that creates a hostile, intimidating, or offensive work environment, including verbal harassment, physical harassment, visual harassment, such as displaying offensive images or materials, and cyber harassment.

Wage and Hour Disputes

California has strict wage and hour laws regarding minimum wage, overtime pay, and meal and rest breaks, but they vary based on location. For example, the state recently enacted minimum wage requirements for fast food workers, and localities can impose a higher minimum wage than the state requires. Employees can seek damages for disputes arising over unpaid wages, misclassification of employees, or failure to provide required breaks.

Wrongful Termination

California is an at-will employment state, meaning that employers can terminate employees for any reason that is not illegal. However, wrongful termination can occur when an employer fires an employee for a discriminatory reason, in retaliation for reporting illegal activity, or for exercising their legal rights. Should this happen, contact a San Fernando Valley employment attorney as soon as possible, as you may have an actionable claim against your employer.

The Role of San Fernando Valley Employment Lawyers 

The right employment lawyer plays a crucial role in protecting the rights of employees in the San Fernando Valley. Employment lawyers specialize in advocating for employees in various workplace-related matters, providing legal advice, representation, and assistance in:

• Reviewing employment contracts, severance agreements, and non-compete agreements to ensure they are fair and legally binding;
• Advising on wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime pay, and meal and rest breaks, to ensure employees are fairly compensated;
• Assisting with discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination claims by providing legal representation and pursuing remedies on behalf of employees;
• Filing complaints with government agencies, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), to address workplace violations;
• Representing employees in negotiations with employers to secure favorable outcomes in employment disputes; and
• Providing guidance on workplace policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal laws.

The right employment law attorney plays a crucial role in protecting the rights of individuals and assisting businesses in navigating the complex legal landscape of the San Fernando Valley. They can help by:

• Protecting employees’s rights in cases of discrimination, harassment, or wrongful termination by advocating for them in legal proceedings;
• Negotiating fair settlements in employment disputes to ensure employees receive proper compensation for any wrongdoing;
• Providing legal representation in court if necessary to pursue justice for employees who are wronged; and 
• Assisting businesses in developing and implementing employment policies and procedures to comply with state and federal laws. 

If you find yourself in a workplace dispute with your employer, seeking legal help may be the best way to protect your rights.

Statute of Limitations

A statute of limitations sets the maximum time after an event in which a party can initiate legal proceedings. Once this time limit has passed, a claim typically cannot be filed. You must file claims related to minimum wage violations, overtime, illegal deductions, or unpaid reimbursements within three years.

Claims based on a written contract, such as an employment contract, have a statute of limitations of four years. Be sure to talk with a California employment law attorney to determine the statute of limitations for your claim, as missing one can result in being barred from seeking justice entirely.

Starpoint Law Can Help You with Your Employment Claim

Employment law claims can be overwhelming for an employee, but you don't have to go alone if you are facing a dispute. The team at Starpoint Law has years of experience with federal and state labor law and will fight to get you the best possible result.

Workers are often in a weaker position than an employer, and we take pride in helping them seek justice when they suffer mistreatment on the job. Call our office or fill out our online contact form to schedule a one-on-one meeting to get started today.

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