Category Archives: Employment
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 »
🎄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 »
Don’t Make These Social Media Mistakes in Your Wrongful Termination Case
There’s an old saying that a picture tells a thousand words. That’s true on social media, where even just a picture has said enough to ruin or damage someone’s employment law case. Yes, it’s Evidence We tend to post on social media without much thought. It’s our account, on our page or site, so… Read More »
Things You May Not Have Known About Punching or Clocking In and Out
Do you punch in and out of work using a time clock? That seemingly straightforward machine or software, or the simple act of punching in and out, actually carries a lot of legal requirements, to make it legal. When employers violate these laws, they could end up owing you money for unpaid hours or… Read More »
