Living in Los Angeles? Know Your Employment Rights

Employee rights are considered as inherent human rights and if you live in California which is one of the most pro-employee states in the United States, rest assured that you are protected from discrimination, labor violations, and other employment abuses under its state laws.

Aside from learning all about your rights through a Los Angeles employment attorney, here is an overview of California employee rights:

• You have the right to be protected against working in dangerous or hazardous conditions. The federal law, Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 provides that you can refuse to work if there is real danger of death or serious injury or you can also request the Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to conduct an inspection if your employer fails to correct or is unaware of that safety hazard.


• State law requires that all covered employees in California must be paid the minimum wage of $8.00 per hour. Unless you’re considered as exempt (outside salesperson, the parent, spouse, or child of the employer, learner and apprentice), your employer has the duty to pay you the minimum wage.


• It is against California law if your employer fires, refuses to hire, demotes, pays lesser benefits, harasses you on the basis of your national origin, race, gender, disability, age, or genetic origin. Sexual harassment is also considered as gender discrimination and is prohibited under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act.


• It is illegal for your employer to retaliate against you (ex. being discharged, threatened with discharge, demoted, suspended, or harassed in any manner) for engaging in a protected activity like applying for or utilizing a sick leave to attend to the illness of a child or a family member).


• If you worked over eight hours in any workday and over 40 hours in the workweek, you have a right to be paid 1 1/2 times his or her regular rate of pay for all hours worked overtime.

If any of the following employee rights were violated by your employer, you may file a complaint with the Labor Commissioner's Office or an employment lawsuit against your employer in federal court. Seek the advice of a Los Angeles employment attorney to help you protect and enforce your rights.