Recent Blog Posts
When Is “Mean Girl” Behavior at Work a Hostile Work Environment?
Children and teenagers are notoriously antagonistic to their peers, and both before and after the advent of the age of cyberbullying, parents have assured their children that once they grow up and enter the workforce, they will be surrounded by people who behave much more reasonably and professionally. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. … Read More »
Breach of Contract Disputes Between Companies and Suppliers
If the Midwest is the breadbasket of America, then California is America’s salad bowl. The sunny climate is suitable for growing almost any kind of fruit or vegetable, such that the Golden State has become virtually synonymous with healthy eating. Restaurants across the world routinely name low fat or plant-based menu items after California… Read More »
What Happens If the Company You Signed a Contract With Runs Out of Money?
Talking a big game is an important business skill. Plenty of business contracts begin when one party makes outsized promises to get the other party’s attention. In a business contract, though, you are legally obligated to keep the promises that you make. This is why projections become noticeably more modest once you get to… Read More »
Can Plaintiffs be Anonymous in Employment Discrimination Lawsuits?
Complaining about employment discrimination, including filing a discrimination lawsuit against your employer, is a legally protected activity. This means that it is against the law for your employer to retaliate against you once it finds out about the lawsuit. Retaliation could include termination of employment, adverse actions such as demotion or denial of raises,… Read More »
Can Your Employer Force You to Retire?
Even the least sensational news reports these days say that many Americans will never be able to afford a comfortable retirement. Out of economic necessity, it has become more and more common for people to continue working beyond the age of 65, the age at which seniors become eligible for Medicare, or even 70,… Read More »
Employment Disputes Over Reasonable Accommodations for Pregnancy or Disabilities
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires employers to make reasonable accommodations to enable an employee to perform the essential functions of the job if he or she needs these accommodations because of a disability. These accommodations might include changes to the workspace, special equipment (such as a text-messaging enabled phone instead… Read More »
Court Rules Against Hospital for Retaliation Against Oncologist Who Filed Whistleblower Claims
Employers have the right to take adverse actions against employers who do their jobs poorly. If you do not fulfill your job duties in a satisfactory way, your employer has the right to write negative reviews of your performance and to deny your applications for promotions. If you consistently perform poorly over a period… Read More »
Food Bank Whistleblower Sues Former Employer for Retaliation
In addition to being one of the nation’s leading producers of food, California also has some of the most climate-friendly laws. In 2016, the California Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Act, also known as SB 1383, became law. It aims to reduce greenhouse gasses in California. Specifically, it targets methane emissions produced by organic waste… Read More »
Protections Against Retaliation Apply Whether You Complain to Your Employer or to an Outside Regulatory Body
It is against the law for your employer to fire you or otherwise punish you for exercising your legal rights. The rights of employees include receiving the payment promised to them by their employers and required by law, taking a leave of absence from work pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA),… Read More »
County Settles With Social Worker Fired in Retaliation for Whistleblower Claims
Whistleblower protections apply to all employees who report misconduct by their employers. These protections prohibit employers from firing, demoting, or otherwise taking adverse actions against employees when they report misconduct by their supervisors internally within the company or to regulators or other third parties. It is against the law for your employer to fire… Read More »
