Los Angeles Employment Law Blog
Lawsuit Accuses IBM of Age Discrimination
Older workers in California and around the country have voiced complaints in recent years about age discrimination in the technology center. International Business Machines Corporation is known more for blue suits than beanbag chairs, but it too has been accused of treating its older workers unfairly. On Dec. 21, a 57-year-old former IBM sales director filed a lawsuit alleging the New York-based company has a longstanding and pervasive culture of discrimination that targets employees over 50 years of age.
Male Labor Analyst Sues Disney Cruise Line for Sexual Harassment
While most sexual harassment lawsuits in California and around the country are filed against male coworkers or supervisors, this isn’t always the case. One such recent case involves a middle-aged man who was fired by the Disney Cruise Line after working for the company for 18 years as a labor analyst. Disney claims the man was terminated for using illegal substances, but he says that he lost his job after complaining about the way he was being treated by his younger female manager.
California Court Ruling Puts Managers at Risk
In 2016, the California legislature passed the Fair Day’s Pay Act, a law that was intended to assist employees in collecting judgments against judgment proof employers for wage and hour violations. Specifically, Section 558.1 of the Act provides that individuals working on behalf of the employer, such as managers, are personally liable for wage and hour violations.
When Does Harassment Become a Hostile Work Environment?
If you are like most California employees, you probably dread going to work some days. Unfortunately, few, if any, people can honestly say that they consistently love going to work. Most workplaces have at least one or two people who make work life difficult for others either via general negativity or outright harassment.
Workplace Discrimination Involving Doctors Who Are Mothers
In general, doctors in California and other parts of the country are among the highest earners in the United States. However, results from a survey published in a leading medical journal show that more than a third of doctors questioned who are also mothers face some type of discrimination in the workplace. And it’s mainly because they have children. The anonymous survey is based on comments from approximately 6,000 respondents.
Protecting the Rights of Pregnant Employees
California employees who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should be aware of discrimination laws concerning the legality of firing a pregnant employee. For example, an employer may illegally attempt to force a pregnant employee to take an unpaid leave of absence or risk losing her job.
Employee Rights Established by EPA and Title VII
The Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act seek to protect workers in California from discrimination. Although the acts obligate employers to treat people fairly regardless of their gender, race, religion or national origin, reality often falls short of the law, and mistreated employees must pursue legal complaints against their employers. The rights granted by these acts sometimes overlap, and a victim of discrimination might choose to file complaints based on one or both acts.
New Motion Filed in Case Against KPMG
Workers in California should understand that discrimination based on gender is illegal. A company called KPMG was the subject of a lawsuit in 2011 claiming that men and women were paid differently. It also claimed that there were disparities in how men and women were promoted. The case won conditional collection action status under the Equal Pay Act in 2014. A motion was filed in November 2018 to get class certification for plaintiffs in the case.
Possible Supreme Court Ruling Ahead on LGBT Discrimination
While California protects employees from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, this is not true for all states. The Supreme Court may rule on several cases regarding whether the protection from discrimination on the basis of sex offered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act extends to protect people in the case of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Illegal Interview Questions in California
In a competitive job market, factors such as skills, experience and attitude should determine eligibility for a job. However, even those who meet the requirements and come in for an interview can receive unfair judgment. Discrimination can and does happen even before an employer hires you. During the interview, certain questions are off the table to ensure a fair assessment. Yet, these questions often still come up, so it is important you recognize them.