San Francisco Employment Lawyers

The general rule in California is that employment is at-will, meaning that an employee may be terminated at any time for any reason, or no reason—except for an unlawful reason. At Minnis & Smallets LLP, our employment lawyers may be able to help you defend against unlawful termination while helping you recover lost income due to employment law violations.

 What is Employment Law?

Employment law is anything having to do with the workplace. For instance, our attorneys advise both employees and employers with respect to employment-related disputes. These often include:

• Sexual harassment
• Breach of contract
• Disability discrimination and accommodations
• Wage and hour disputes
• Retaliation for engaging in protected activity
• Racial and age discrimination claims

How to Recognize an Employment Law Dispute

Many employment disputes concern issues of unfair treatment in the workplace. These may involve discrimination, sexual harassment, or retaliation. These matters are governed by both federal and state laws. There are strict deadlines for filing a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), so you really need to speak to an attorney as soon as you suspect a problem. Here are some red flags to consider: 

• Are you being treated differently than other employees because of your race, age, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity? California law expands the types of protected classes that are protected under federal law. If you are being treated unfairly or differently due to something like this, you may be the victim of discrimination.

• Are you being subjected to unwanted conduct of a sexual nature? It is fairly obvious that a boss should not use sex as a bargaining chip in discussions about your career, so usually, sexual harassment is expressed in other terms. A boss may imply or hint at it. If you feel uncomfortable at all, talk to a lawyer to get advice.

• Are you subjected to adverse employment actions due to your age? If you are over 40 and you feel you are being denied opportunities or advancement due to your age, you may want to speak to an attorney.

• Are you being compensated properly?  If you are a sales employee, then the employer must abide by the terms of your commission plan. If you are not exempt from overtime laws, then your employer must compensate you for overtime work you perform.

Since time is limited for pursuing a case against an employer, you need to speak with a lawyer sooner than later. Call Minnis & Smallets LLP, and ask to speak with one of our experienced employment law attorneys today.