What Rights Does California Offer Workers Beyond Federal Law?

Our Los Angeles Employment Lawyers Explain California Workplace Protections

Federal employment laws provide some basic rights that all employees should have. However, state laws in California also grant individuals additional workplace rights. While federal laws on employment and labor may provide a floor of protection, California employment laws may offer greater protection than federal laws. The Los Angeles employment lawyers at Kesluk, Silverstein, Jacob & Morrison, P.C. can explain what rights California offers workers that go beyond federal law. Our employment attorneys have worked with many workers and business owners, allowing them to understand employee rights in the workplace better.

What Rights Do California Workers Have Under State Employment Labor Laws?

California offers many rights to its working residents. These statutes intend to assist employees by accomplishing the following:

• Prevent discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) is a method used to keep employers from harassing or discriminating against employees. Specifically, the statute does not allow individuals in the workplace to harass or discriminate against employees for a number of reasons, including the employee’s age, religious creed, disability (which includes AIDS in California), medical condition, gender or sexual orientation. FEHA also includes guidelines for what constitutes sexual harassment, disability discrimination and other factors that may contribute to harassment or discrimination at work.
• Provide safe working conditions. The Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) is a federal law, but California opted to add more safety measures with its own California Occupation Safety and Health Act (Cal OSHA). California amends OSHA with stricter requirements on ergonomics and prevention of repetitive motion injuries, mandatory injury and illness prevention programs, updates on permissible exposure limits and numerous other developments.
• Allow medical leave under certain conditions. The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) grants workers the right to leave work to recover from a medical condition or care for a family member with a serious condition. However, California’s Paid Family Care Leave Act may allow some employees to take up to six weeks of partially paid time off to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent or domestic partner and to bond with a newborn, adopted or foster child. The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) also allows for more disability leave time for pregnancy or childbirth-related conditions.

Get Free Legal Advice from Experienced Los Angeles Employment Lawyers

Understanding California employment laws and workers rights is crucial for both employers and their employees. Learning about California labor law from our qualified Los Angeles employment lawyers may allow businesses to avoid costly lawsuits and workers to avoid injustices in the workplace.

Our employment law attorneys are recognized for their skill in resolving labor disputes on behalf of business owners, employees and labor unions. If you need advice about workplace rights or need legal assistance concerning a workplace issue, contact our Los Angeles employment attorneys as soon as possible by calling (310) 997-4431 to set up a free consultation.