Los Angeles Employment Law Blog
Salary History and Offers of Employment
Job hunting in California and throughout the country is often a nerve-racking experience. In addition to having to sell oneself to an employer, job hunters are frequently asked a number of personal questions, including queries about previous salaries.
New Law Makes Gender Wage Information Public
In California, companies will soon be required to file information about gender wage differences. Starting on July 1, 2019, this information will be submitted biennially, and it will be published online for public viewing once proper protocols have been established. Specifically, employers required to comply with this requirement must show the difference between mean and median wages between male and female exempt employees.
The Fair Pay Act and Gender-Based Wage Discrimination
Wage discrimination based on the gender of employees is illegal in California. People whose jobs require similar work must be paid equal amounts as those of the opposite gender unless an exception applies. Under the Fair Pay Act, both private and public employers are prohibited from discriminating against workers in their pay on the basis of their genders.
Ageism and Age Discrimination
Most older employees in California work hard to further their careers. Yet, despite putting forth their best efforts while on the job, these workers aren’t able to secure promotions, raises, or other opportunities. While there are many reasons that a career may stall, age discrimination is sometimes a factor. Unfortunately, some companies have developed a youth-oriented culture that can translate into an ageist workplace.
Will Equal Pay for Equal Work Ever Become a Reality?
A couple of years ago, a new law went into effect that was meant to ensure that women were being paid equally compared to their male counterparts. But is it working, and what exactly is the pay differential between men and women? A recent article in the Los Angeles Times shows that, despite advances, female employees with the state of California have salaries that trail their male colleagues by just over 20 percent.
Race and Wage Discrimination Very Prevalent
Some Californians believe that racial discrimination in the U.S. has declined. However, a meta-study indicates that racism is alive and well in America, and discrimination against blacks and Latinos has continued unabated for decades. According to researchers at Harvard, Northwestern University and the Institute of Social Research in Oslo, Norway, discrimination against blacks in hiring has not changed in the last 25 years.
DACA Dreamers With Valid Work Permits Still Have Rights
For generations, many immigrants have made homes in California, and in recent years the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program protected young people brought to the country without documentation. Although many of these people, known as dreamers, obtained work permits under the program, a decision from the Trump administration has endangered the future legality of their employment. Despite the shifting political landscape, dreamers with valid work permits continue to have legal protection from discrimination at work.
Are Dads Entitled to Equal Parental Leave Benefits?
Typically, people think of new mothers when they consider a company’s parental leave benefits. However, fathers are also affected by the event of a new child, and are entitled to parental leave. Fathers do not require the physical rest that new mothers do, but they have a right to bonding time with their baby. In fact, the same is true for new adopted children or children born through surrogate mothers.
Employee Rights Remain the Same During Disasters
From wildfire evacuations in California to hurricane devastation in coastal regions, natural disasters and other crises impact employees and employers in many ways. Serious disruptions like these, however, do not exempt employers from following wage and hour laws or honoring employees’ rights to take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
New Online Whistleblower Complaint Form Available for Workers
California workers may be interested to learn that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration released a revised whistleblower complaint form online. According to the announcement made by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA, the online form allows whistleblowers to file their complaints quickly and safely.