Riverside Employment Lawyer
Riverside Employment Attorney
Earning a living is something that should be safe and accessible for everyone in Riverside, CA. Unfortunately, many workplaces and employers do not follow the laws that protect their employees. In many instances, it is less costly for them to overlook employment law violations to the detriment of employee wellbeing.
Fortunately, California law aims to protect employees from toxic or unsafe working environments. As such, employees are permitted to take legal action if they believe that their employer has committed an employment law infraction against them. With the help of a qualified employment lawyer, you may build a case that protects your rights and rectifies any employment law infractions.
If you have experienced discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, or another type of employment law violation, our employment lawyers are here to represent you.
Diefer Law Group: Your Riverside Employment Attorneys
For many years, our team has been passionately representing employees around California. We tirelessly advocate for employee rights in the workplace because we believe that everyone should have the opportunity to safely support their family. No job is worth your physical, emotional, or mental health, and we are here to advocate for you in situations where any of these are threatened.
Our employment lawyers have experience with all types of employment law claims. No matter what you are facing, we are confident that we can help. When you work with Diefer Law Group, you work directly with our experienced attorneys, not paralegals or representatives. Our clients trust us to advocate for their needs and build the strongest possible case in their favor, and we can do the same for you.
Among Riverside labor attorneys, no firm can top our experience, service, and passion for our clients. Trust Diefer Law Group for all your Riverside County employment law needs.
What Is an Employment Law Claim?
Employment law is a wide set of legal regulations that outline how employers must treat their employees. Employers are responsible for creating a safe work environment by providing safety equipment, cleaning the facility, and allowing for regular breaks and mealtimes. However, they must also work to prevent sexual harassment, discrimination, and other forms of hostile work environments from occurring. Employers must also pay their employees in accordance with all employment laws and their employee contracts.
When an employer fails to meet all the requirements outlined by law, affected employees are permitted to take legal action to rectify the situation, which takes the form of an employment law claim.
Employment law claims vary widely. Common types of cases include:
- Wage disputes or unpaid wages
- Whistleblower retaliation
- Discrimination
- Wrongful termination
- Harassment, including sexual harassment
- Unsafe working conditions
- Break and mealtime violations
Your claim may be one of the above, but it may be something different. Be sure to speak with a qualified attorney if you believe that you have an employment law claim.
Why Do I Need an Attorney for an Employment Law Case?
Employment law can be complicated, as it varies by industry, state, and the number of employees that your employer has. Because of this, fighting your own case is extremely difficult. It takes many years of training and practice to be able to confidently and properly argue an employment law case. Many people who attempt to do this themselves lose their opportunity for a settlement.
Although you may believe that you are the only person affected by your claim, this is untrue. Other employees in your workplace may be suffering similar offenses, or they might in the future if you do not take action. Advocating for employee rights benefits your entire company and can help build a better future for the business.
Finally, most businesses have attorneys who work for them. This may be an in-house lawyer or someone who consults occasionally on legal issues. Because of this, your employer will almost certainly have legal representation while your claim proceeds. Fighting against an experienced attorney without prior legal experience is risky and will likely cost you your claim. It is safest to hire your own legal representation who can properly refute your employer’s attorney’s claims in court.
Protected Traits
Both discrimination and harassment are inflicted on someone because of a protected trait. As such, it is important to understand these classifications so that you can identify discriminatory practices if they happen to you or a coworker.
Protected traits include:
- Race
- Sexual orientation
- Gender or gender expression
- Age
- Religion
- Disability status
- Ethnicity
- Country of origin
- Pregnancy status
Wrongful Termination
A key employment law category is wrongful termination. These situations occur when an employee gets fired for an illegal reason, such as being pregnant, or as the result of an incorrect rumor.
It is important to note that employers do not need a reason to fire an employee, but there are situations in which the termination can be illegal. This can be difficult to understand for many people, and identifying these cases requires situational evidence.
For example, if you announce that you are pregnant, and a few days later you are suddenly fired, this may be an indication that you have been wrongfully terminated. Because of this, it is important to monitor what you tell your employer and your coworkers, as timing is crucial in wrongful termination scenarios. It is rare that an employer outright declares that they are firing an individual for an illegal reason.
Discrimination
Discrimination occurs when an individual is treated differently because of a protected trait. However, this is a fairly broad category that encompasses many different situations. Common examples of discrimination include:
- Passing over a qualified candidate for a promotion because of a protected trait
- Firing someone because of a protected trait
- Leaving someone out of key meetings or information because of a protected trait
- Making jokes or comments about, or perpetuating caricatures of, a protected trait
- Failing to hire someone who is qualified because of a protected trait
As with wrongful termination, it is rare for employers to admit that their actions are based on a person’s protected classification. Emails and other communication records will likely be necessary to prove that discrimination has occurred.
Wage and Hour Disputes
- Failing to pay their employees for overtime
- Making them clock out for paid breaks
- Not allowing them to take their lunches
- Stealing tips
Retaliation
Employees have the right to advocate for themselves and their rights in the workplace. If an employee reports workplace mistreatment, the employer cannot punish them for doing so. If they do, it is considered retaliation, and the employer may be held legally responsible.
You may not be retaliated against for reporting things such as discrimination or harassment in the workplace. However, you are also protected against retaliation after a whistleblowing incident. If you notice or suspect illegal activity within your company, you are legally permitted to report the behavior without negative backlash from your employer.
If your employer does try to punish you for reporting their illegal behavior, you can file a retaliation claim. This is the case whether or not the accusations end up being true, as long as you made the claim in good faith.
Workers’ Compensation
Riverside Employment Law FAQs
Q: Should I Tell HR I’m Getting a Lawyer?
A: Although your employer and human resources representative will find out about your legal representation during your claim, it is to your advantage to delay this news. Wait until you speak with your lawyer and get their advice before alerting your place of employment that you will be filing a legal claim. Doing so prematurely can create unnecessary obstructions and problems, both for your claim and for your time at work. Getting personalized advice from your attorney can really help.Q: How Do I Sue My Employer in California?
A: Although there are certain scenarios in which you can sue your employer, there are other scenarios in which you cannot. In all cases, the first step is to consult with an experienced employment law attorney to see what you should do. Your attorney can guide you through the next steps of the process and inform you about how you should go about suing your employer. Our team at Diefer Law Group is here to answer any employment law questions that you may have.Q: What Are My Employee Rights in California?
A: You have a vast amount of rights as an employee in California, and they range broadly. Among others, you have the right to:- A safe working environment
- Safety equipment
- Freedom from harassment
- Freedom from discrimination
- The right to whistleblow
Q: Can an Employee Sue an Employer in California?
A: In some situations, an employee may sue an employer. For example, if an employer fails to take action against harassment, or perpetuates discrimination, an employee has the right to sue. However, if an employee is going through a workers’ compensation claim, they do not have the right to sue their employer. As long as the employer has workers’ compensation insurance, they are safe from personal injury claims. Talk to our attorneys to see if you have a claim.Q: How Much Does a California Employment Lawyer Cost?
A: All attorneys charge differently, so it is important to speak with all potential attorneys about their fees and costs before you begin to work with them. Some attorneys charge an hourly rate, which is usually between $98 and $450 per hour. Other attorneys take a percentage of your settlement at the end of the case. Speaking individually with attorneys allows you to be prepared for the cost of your claim.Contact Diefer Law Group
Our team at Diefer Law Group is here to help you navigate the complicated world of employment law. We are passionate about ensuring that all California workers know and exercise their rights in the workplace. No employer should be allowed to take advantage of their workers without strict and swift consequences. We are confident that we can represent you and your coworkers in any type of employment law case you may encounter.
To begin the process of filing a claim, or to ask any questions you may have, please contact Diefer Law Group directly.
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