Recent Blog Posts
Amazon Gets Sued for Subtle Retaliation Against Workers Requesting Accommodations
When we think of retaliation at work, we think of a boss or employer doing something really bad to an employee, to get back at that employee for exercising a legal right. By “really bad,” we think of being fired or demoted or being refused a promotion. But as is alleged in a recent… Read More »
Excuses Employers Use to Try to Discriminate Legally
We all know that discrimination in the workplace is illegal. But being illegal doesn’t mean that employers do not discriminate. That’s because of one large loophole, or exception, that does, in some cases, allow employers to discriminate legally: it’s called a bona fide occupational qualification, or BFOQ, and it’s one of the most common… Read More »
Changes to California Employment Law are Coming in 2026
As the year closes out, on the horizon are changes to California’s employment laws-or really, the starting effective date of already-passed changes. Here are some of the more significant or major ones. Posting of Your Rights The first is the start of the Workplace Know Your Rights Act, which is a law that requires… Read More »
Can Your Boss Force You to Take a Polygraph or Lie Detector Test?
Imagine that you apply for a job, and the interview process seems to be going pretty well. They tell you that you’re in line to get hired, there’s just one more hurdle: they want you to take a polygraph, or lie detector test. Can they do that–can you be required to take a lie… Read More »
Holiday Bonuses and Your Overtime Pay
Whether it’s for the holidays or new years, many employees are getting a pretty nice holiday gift, a holiday bonus in their paycheck. But that holiday bonus can affect overtime pay, as far as how much overtime you’re supposed to get under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), and many employers calculate that bonus… Read More »
Things to Look for Before Signing That Employment Contract
Because California, like many states, is an at-will employment state, many employers simply would rather be able to fire you for any reason, rather than worry about whether they are complying with or violating an employment contract. Therefore, it is becoming more and more rare to have to sign or worry about agreeing to… Read More »
Your Rights to Access Your Employee File at Work
You may not know this, but your employer has, or is supposed to have, a file on you as an employee. And in fact, your employer must retain your file, even for three years after you leave employment with the company. But many employees don’t know what is contained in an employee file or… Read More »
Do You Have to be Paid for Onboarding or Training at Work?
Let’s say you are starting a new job. Like any new job, there is an onboarding process. That may include paperwork to be filled out, training videos to watch, testing, evaluations, background checks, or other procedural steps, to officially begin working at your job. But do you have to be paid for that time?… Read More »
Accommodations at Work for Insomnia and Sleep Disorders
For many of us, there seems to be two realities that we live in: We either cannot wait to put our head down and go to sleep, or else, we put our head on the pillow and we can’t sleep at all. And for many people, that inability to sleep is more than a… Read More »
🎄Company Holiday Parties: Festive Fun or Legal Minefield?
As the holiday season approaches, many San Jose and Silicon Valley, businesses are planning festive gatherings to celebrate the year’s achievements and foster camaraderie among employees. While holiday parties can boost morale and strengthen workplace culture, they also carry legal risks that employers must carefully navigate under California’s stringent employment laws. Alcohol Liability and Harassment Claims Serving alcohol at… Read More »
