Employee Rights Blog

Dealing with a toxic boss can feel like navigating a minefield every single day. The stress follows you home, disrupts your sleep, and makes you dread Monday mornings. You're not imagining it, and you're certainly not alone. This guide will not only provide strategies for managing a difficult bo...

Your stomach drops and your heart starts pounding. The words hang in the air, heavy and sharp. Your boss just threatened to fire you, and now a thousand questions are racing through your mind. Is that even allowed? What did you do wrong? What are you going to do now? It is a frightening and isol...

As an employee in California, you may be wondering how many days you can legally work in a row without a break. While federal law does not limit the number of days in a row an employee might work, according to California Labor Code Section 551, all California employees, regardless of the field in...

California's Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) has long been a lifeline for workers seeking to hold employers accountable for Labor Code violations. By deputizing employees to stand in the shoes of the state, PAGA allows workers to enforce labor laws not just for themselves, but on behalf of a...

At Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers, we represent employees across California who have faced unpaid wages, denied breaks, retaliation, or discrimination in the workplace. A recent case illustrates just how seriously California juries take wage-and-hour rights. On September 5, 2025, the Daily Jo...

If you have been harassed or discriminated against at work, face a hostile work environment, or have been wrongfully terminated from your job, you may be wondering how to fight for your rights and hold your employer accountable. When you are looking to retain the services of an experienced and kn...

Seeing something wrong at your job can put you in a tough spot. You want to do the right thing, but you worry about your career. This fear is real, but in California, the law is on your side. Answering the question of what rights do whistleblowers have in California? reveals some of the strongest...

California's labor laws require employers to pay workers on time. Employers are also required under the law to pay wages - typically within 72 hours - to employees who resign or are terminated. When employers fail to meet these legal obligations, they are liable to pay a waiting time penalty that...

Can you be fired for social media posts? You might think your social media is your own personal space. However, a reckless post could cost you your job. This article provides a clear understanding of employee rights and employer limitations regarding social media conduct so you can navigate this ...

You felt something was wrong at work, so you spoke up. Maybe it was about unpaid wages or an unsafe condition. Now, everything feels different. Your boss is cold, your hours are cut, and you feel a target on your back. If this sounds familiar, you need to understand the answer to the question, wh...

California employers are obligated to pay the wages of an hourly employee for all time that the employee is under the control of the employer, and includes all the time the employee is suffered or permitted to work, whether or not required to do so. In Industrial Welfare Commission Orders 4 and 5...

Life isn't always predictable. Be it the birth of a child or being hampered by an illness or disability, workers in California can feel vulnerable and helpless in such situations especially with questions over finances and continued employment hovering over their heads. There are a number of ques...

In August 2025, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals delivered a decisive blow to the GEO Group, a private operator of immigration detention centers. The court upheld a $23 million judgment requiring GEO to pay back wages to immigrant detainees and restitution to the State of Washington, rejecting ...

Understanding employment law, especially in California, can be challenging. Employees often face confusion when trying to determine the protections they are entitled to under both federal and state law. This article offers a clear and thorough comparison of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA...

It feels incredibly unfair. You work just as hard as your coworker, maybe even harder. But when you hear whispers about salary, you get a sinking feeling that you are being paid less. If this is happening because of your gender, it is not just unfair, it is illegal, thanks to the Equal Pay Act. ...

1. Case Background & Legal Claims In 2021, Disney and Lucasfilm fired actress Gina Carano from “The Mandalorian” after a series of controversial social media posts. Her posts included comparisons between the treatment of conservatives in modern America and Jews in Nazi Germany, along with remark...

That long day at work just turned into a long night. You look at the clock and realize you have been on the job for over eight hours, again. It makes you wonder if you should be getting paid more for these extra hours. Understanding the basics of the California overtime laws can feel confusing, ...

If you have just received news that you are pregnant, you may become worried about whether you will lose your job. Is it legal for your employer to fire you because you have become pregnant or if you decide to take maternity leave under California's Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? The answer is ...

Sexual discrimination during the hiring process remains a serious issue, even with strong state and federal protections in place. For job seekers in California, understanding what qualifies as discrimination, how it may appear during interviews, and what steps to take if it occurs is crucial. Emp...

Whether you are a survivor of sexual assault or sexual harassment in the workplace, coming forward with your story can be one of the most difficult things one can do in life. A reluctance or hesitation to come forward with allegations is a common reaction from someone who has endured sexual haras...

Determining who can or cannot receive overtime pay in California can be tricky due to the complexities in individual workplaces. The law states that non-exempt employees in California are eligible to receive overtime if they go over their scheduled work hours. However, exempt or salaried employee...

Two former employees have filed lawsuits in California state court accusing former Paramount Pictures executive Patrick Smith of sexual assault, harassment, and workplace retaliation. The suits, brought against Smith, Paramount Pictures, and parent company Paramount Global, allege that Smith abus...

The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) (Gov. Code, § 12945.2) provides unpaid job protection rights for up to twelve work weeks of qualified family leave. A California labor and employment attorney at Kingsley Szamet Employment Lawyers can help you with the law. The CFRA provides job protection benefits for qu...

California has enacted a number of powerful laws that allows for the enforcement of the state's wage and hour laws. Unfortunately, in this state, there are a number of workers whose hands are tied when it comes to filing class-action lawsuits against their employers because the company they work ...

Wondering how class action lawsuits work? If so, you're probably facing difficult challenges against a large, unrelenting company. You're just one person up against a colossal corporation that's done you wrong. But what if I told you there's a way to level the playing field? A tool in our legal ...