By hiring an experienced and competent employee lawyer, Los Angeles-based workers can take a breather about their employment-related issues. The lawyer will not only have a thorough understanding of the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act but also in-depth knowledge about their application in relation to different professions. Additionally, the lawyer will know how to review your particular situation thoroughly and go about gathering relevant evidence and trustworthy witnesses. They will then prepare an iron-clad case that will prevail in court or before the California state labor department.
When should you consult an employment lawyer?
You should consider consulting an employee lawyer Los Angeles in the following situations:
- You have lost your job due to discrimination related to your age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, race, or national origin.
- You have been fired for being pregnant, taking a medical leave for sickness, or for having a disability.
- You have received a pink slip for refusing to commit an illegal act on your employer’s behalf.
- You have been dismissed for calling attention to the lack of safety standards and illegal activities at your workplace.
- You have been asked to leave for asking for minimum wages, unpaid wages, and overtime wages.
- You have experienced emotional distress at your workplace due to bullying and harassment from co-workers and higher-ups.
- You have been subjected to sexual harassment from your co-workers and higher-ups.
- You do not get legally mandated meal and rest breaks at your workplace.
- You do not get paid sick leave or work-related travel expenses from your employer.
- You are not being paid the minimum wage and/or overtime wages for your work.
- You have been demoted and have had your work hours and salary cut for no justifiable reasons.
- You face retaliation from your employer for acting as a whistle-blower and disclosing state or federal workplace violations to the government agencies.
How can an employment lawyer assist you?
The employment law in California is very clear about protecting the rights of employees. It is unlawful for employers to fire their employees without valid cause, and neither can they retaliate or discriminate against them. By law, they also cannot pay below the minimum wage in California, which is $10 for employers with 25 or fewer employees and $10.50 for employers with 26 or more employees. In some California cities, such as San Diego, the minimum wage is higher. Additionally, employers must make an overtime payment if their employees work longer than eight hours per day or 40 hours every week.
An employment lawyer in Los Angeles will be well-aware of these state-required laws and will know how to get them enforced. They will first attempt to negotiate with your employer and reach a settlement that is acceptable to both parties. If you or your employer are not willing to negotiate, the employment lawyer will file the case for you in court or with the state labor department, depending on what is more to your advantage.
They will also present your case in court or before the state labor department and do everything possible to protect and uphold your legal rights. Taking on a company or a corporation is not an easy matter and you may find it very stressful at times, but knowing that you have a qualified employment lawyer to handle the matter for you can help. They will be with you every step of the way until there can be a rightful legal resolution of the case and you can get your just dues and can go back to renew your professional career.
However, before hiring an employment lawyer, Los Angeles-based employees should get a free evaluation from them about the legal situation. It will be a good idea if you also take the opportunity to inquire about the total legal costs involved in filing a case against your employer. You should know upfront what expenses, along with the attorney fees, that you are likely to incur. You may want to weigh these against the possible outcome of your case, which could be reinstatement in your former position or monetary compensation for the loss of your job.
