Los Angeles Employment Law Blog

According to a lawsuit filed against Vice Media on Feb. 13, the company violated equal pay laws in California. The lawsuit, which was filed by an employee who worked in management from 2014 to 2016, also alleges that New York equal pay laws and the Federal Equal Pay Act were violated. The lawsuit says that the female employee hired a man as her subordinate, but he was paid $25,000 more a year than she was.

Many people in California go to work to support their families, but a person’s pregnancy could result in discrimination at work. Specific laws that protect workers from this form of discrimination include the Americans with Disability Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Family Medical Leave Act. Although these acts do not apply to everyone in all situations, they do form a framework that grants some rights to parents and expecting parents in regards to hiring, firing, demoting or promoting.

Californians who have disabilities are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act from workplace discrimination that is based on their conditions. Employers must provide reasonable accommodations if the disabled workers or job applicants need them to perform their job duties unless doing so would present an undue hardship to the companies.

Workers in California that believe they are experiencing wage discrimination may be interested in learning about a recent decision issued by a federal appeals court. With a ruling of 2-1, the 4th United States Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission could proceed with a lawsuit against an insurance regulatory agency. The EEOC alleges that the agency may have compensated female employees less than their male counterparts working similar jobs.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 protects people in California and throughout the country that are aged 40 years and older from age discrimination on the job. However, one study found that in comparison to their workforce representation, Generation X workers are hired 33 percent less and Baby Boomers 60 percent less in tech jobs while millennials are hired 50 percent more.

In December 2017, a jury awarded the former employee of an asbestos abatement and demolition business with a $174,000 settlement after he was retaliated against for reporting improper asbestos removal. California workers will want to know the details of this case so as to better understand what constitutes retaliation and wrongful termination.

As a California employee, you have certain rights, and one of those rights involves having a work environment that is free from discrimination. While discrimination can take on a variety of forms, know that you, as a pregnant woman, do not have to put up with unfavorable treatment at work because of your condition. Just what is workplace pregnancy discrimination, and how can you tell if you are a victim?