Los Angeles Employee Rights 2024: Workers Know Your Rights

Wage and earnings rights are just a few of the many rights workers have in Los Angeles, California. The minimum wage in Los Angeles County is set to rise to $17.27 on July 1, 2024. That’s more than $1 higher than the current statewide minimum wage. If you work in Los Angeles, it is crucial that you understand your Los Angeles employee rights.

Any employer who violates your rights is subject to a complaint filing with a government agency or a lawsuit. Either action can lead to monetary compensation for victims of workplace harassment and discrimination.

What Are My Workplace Rights in Los Angeles?

Workers have a wide range of rights under state and federal law. Violations of those rights can be grounds for filing a complaint with a government agency like the EEOC or filing a lawsuit with the help of an employment attorney.

Privacy

Workers have a right to reasonable levels of privacy in their workplace. Having phone calls in private and maintaining personal possessions are two reasonable expectations workers can have in California. There are exceptions to those circumstances. Someone who works on a busy production line, for example, may not be able to maintain a personalized workspace.

One important element of privacy is the availability of spaces to store personal possessions. Lockers, purses, and other storage options should only be accessible to workers.

While personal phone calls are considered private, workers do not have the right to keep business-owned resources like company emails or searches made on the employer’s network and computer system private. Information on those platforms can be accessed by certain company employees.

Workplace Safety

All employees in California have the right to work in a safe environment. Safety could mean physical safety, meaning that the workspace is safe, secure, and free from any objects that could cause harm.

Workers also have the right to not be exposed to chemicals and substances that could be harmful to their health. For this reason, certain substances like asbestos are banned from buildings and workspaces. Employee rights protect workers who file whistleblower letters with a government agency like the EPA or EEOC.

Fair Wages

Employees in California have the right to be paid fairly for the work they perform. These employee rights include the right to minimum wage. As of 2024, the state minimum wage is $16 an hour. Some cities have passed laws raising this amount even higher. An employer who fails to pay their employee at this hourly rate could face enforcement action from the California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement.

Overtime pay is also strictly enforced in California. Some jobs are excluded from these overtime requirements. Overtime in California is 1.5 times the regular hourly rate. Anyone who works more than eight hours in one day or 40 hours in a workweek has to pay overtime. Many hourly workers are independent contractors.

Employers and managers cannot dictate how independent workers perform their work. Independent contractors are also free to work at the hours they choose as long as they perform their given tasks.

As a worker in California and Los Angeles, you have the right to work without discrimination based on race, religion, nationality, gender, gender expression, age, and other protected characteristics. If you believe this right is being violated, consult with an experienced employment attorney who can provide legal counsel on the recourse to take.

Meal Breaks

If you work more than five hours in a workday, you are entitled to a 30-minute lunch break. The length of your lunch break depends on how many hours you work at a given time. All employees are also entitled to rest breaks in addition to meal breaks.

Wrongful Termination

Los Angeles workers have protections from wrongful termination. Any termination that violates a contractual agreement is considered wrongful. For example, a worker who is contractually granted a set number of paid days off per year cannot be fired for utilizing those days. Workers cannot be terminated because they have a protected characteristic. Employers cannot fire someone for exercising their legal rights.

Disability Rights

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) prohibits discrimination against anyone who is disabled. Employers must also provide reasonable accommodations to workers with disabilities. If anyone is wheelchair-bound, for example, the parking lot should have a space allotted and ramps available for easy access to the building. Other accommodations could include special devices that allow a worker with a disability to perform their duties.

FAQs

Q: What Are My Rights as an Employee in California?

A: Under state and federal law, workers have the right to work in a safe environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. Workers cannot be demoted, terminated, or denied a promotion due to a protected characteristic.

Other important worker rights include overtime pay and workers’ compensation. With few exceptions, the majority of California jobs allow workers to be paid 1.5 times their hourly wage for any time worked beyond eight hours within one day or 40 hours within a workweek.

Q: What Is the Garment Worker Protection Act in California?

A: The Garment Worker Protection Act in California was passed in 2022. Also known as Senate Bill 62, the legislation that was signed into law addresses the payment of employees in the garment industry. The act protects the wages of garment workers by requiring employers to keep payroll records for at least four years. The bill regulates how contracts are written and takes steps to ensure that workers’ compensation benefits are available to garment workers.

Q: What Can HR Legally Say About You in California?

A: HR can describe your work performance, but nobody from your human resource department can describe you in a manner that is discriminatory. Your age, race, gender, and other characteristics should not play a role in HR decisions, especially when those actions are punitive or harmful in any manner.

Q: What Qualifies as Wrongful Termination in California?

A: If you were terminated due to factors other than job performance, you may have been wrongfully terminated. You cannot be terminated for taking whistleblower-related actions. No employer can demote or terminate you due to a protected characteristic such as sexual orientation, gender, or pregnancy.

Any firing that occurs in violation of a contractual agreement is considered wrongful. A wrongful termination could provide grounds for taking legal action against the at-fault party.

Schedule Your Los Angeles Employee Rights Consultation Today

Violations of workplace protections should never be tolerated. Unfortunately, employers often fail to hold at-fault parties accountable. If you have lost wages or suffered setbacks at work due to a protected characteristic that you have, taking legal action can help get monetary compensation.

The Law Offices of Miguel S. Ramirez have helped many Los Angeles clients recover damages after they experience a violation of their employee rights. We will fight to hold the at-fault party accountable for violating your rights. Contact our office today to schedule a consultation.