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Los Angeles Employment Lawyer

MEET OUR LOS ANGELES EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS: ATTORNEYS FOR EMPLOYEES IN ACTION

You work hard and deserve to be treated fairly in the workplace. A Los Angeles employment lawyer can help if you are concerned about a workplace situation that impacts your rights as an employee.

Employers can obtain guidance from trained professionals in dealing with workplace issues. Typically, the same is not true for employees. Attorneys for Employees is a boutique law firm dedicated to protecting the rights of workers - people just like you! 

Our team of skilled Los Angeles employment legal practitioners understands how intimidating it can be to confront an employer. Our goal is to educate you about the law, explain your rights and options, and guide you through the legal process to a successful outcome. Our lawyers specialize in vindicating the rights of employees in a wide range of employment matters, including wrongful termination, harassment (sex, race, religion, and other protected classes), discrimination, whistleblowing, disability, medical leave, breach of contract, negotiation of severance agreements, and wage and hour disputes.

Attorneys for Employees is dedicated to representing employees. Contact an experienced Los Angeles employment lawyer. 

What Is Employment Law? 

Employment law is the body of law that governs the relationship between the employer and their employees. It includes various state and federal laws as well as regulations and court decisions that outline the rights and responsibilities of both workers and businesses. These laws govern almost every aspect of the employer-employee relationship, including the following: 

  • Hiring and termination of employees
  • Pay, hours, and benefits
  • Employment contracts and agreements
  • Workplace health and safety
  • Medical and family leave

Employment law also addresses many controversial issues such as discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Employment law addresses almost anything that happens in the workplace or involves the employer-employee relationship. In some instances, the law will favor the employer, while in other areas, the law focuses on protecting the rights of workers.  

Generally speaking, federal law will control over state law and will determine the outcome of many employment issues. That said, workers should be aware that state law governs many employment issues and the outcomes of these issues can vary widely from state to state. In other words, what may be legal in one state may not be legal in California. Furthermore, the relationship between state and federal law and the regulations and court decisions stemming from those laws create a very complex legal landscape - a landscape that is constantly changing due to updates in the law. 

Larger employers have in-house and outside legal counsel to help them stay abreast of the law and provide guidance for protecting themselves. Workers do not have this luxury. Most workers are unsure of their rights and do not know what to do or what remedies they have when their rights are violated. Unfortunately, there are no easy answers. If you have questions about your rights as an employee, a Los Angeles employment lawyer from Attorneys for Employees can get you the answers you need. 

What Are California’s Employment Laws? 

As mentioned above, there are both federal and California state laws that govern employment matters, many of which overlap. Two of the most important employment laws in California are the following:  

  1. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). This statute protects workers and employees against all forms of discrimination from the hiring process all the way through termination or resignation.  
  2. The California Family Rights Act (CFRA). The CFRA provides workers with up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave if they are unable to work due to a medical condition or if they need to take care of a member of their family. 

Both of these statutes provide a wealth of protections to employees. If your employer violates one of these statutes or another California employment statute, you may be entitled to a variety of remedies including backpay, future pay, attorney’s fees, court costs, interest, and other monetary penalties as well as equitable remedies such as reinstatement. 

While federal law provides many of the same protections and remedies, California law typically provides broader coverage. For example, the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) applies only to private sector employers with 50 or more employees. The CFRA applies to private sector employers with only five or more employees. Another example is that federal anti-discrimination laws apply to employers with 15 or more employees while FEHA applies to employers with as few as five employees. CFRA applies to domestic partnerships whereas federal law does not. FEHA allows for unlimited compensatory and punitive damages in discrimination cases, but federal law does not. That said, there may be instances where you should pursue your claim under federal law. 

Understanding the differences between federal and California state law, including when one applies and the other does not, is critical to the success of your case. For this reason, you need to speak with a Los Angeles employment lawyer if you believe your employer has violated your rights. 

Choosing the Right Los Angeles Employment Lawyer for You

Whether you need guidance or believe that your rights have been violated, the sooner you speak with a Los Angeles employment lawyer the sooner you can get the help you need. Choosing a lawyer is a big step and a deeply personal decision. And while lawyers can be expensive, keep in mind that getting the legal help you need is an investment in your future. 

Get a Referral

In this day and age, we begin almost any search online. While the internet is a powerful tool, do not overlook recommendations from friends, family, or trusted co-workers. They can give you some insight into how the lawyer operates, what you can expect in terms of their responsiveness, and how they bill for their legal fees. Even if they don’t know an employment lawyer, the lawyer they do know may be able to make a referral. 

Tell Your Story and Ask Questions

Whether you obtained a referral or found someone online, you can reach out to them via phone or email. If they do not get back to you within 24 hours or so, move on to your next prospective lawyer. 

Be prepared to give them a brief synopsis of your issue and whatever details you believe to be important. This will help them assess your situation and provide some advice for steps to be taken. Before you talk with them, however, give some advance thought to any questions you may have, and do not be afraid to ask them. Unless they can answer your questions in a way that you can understand, they are not the lawyer for you.   

Choose a Los Angeles Employment Lawyer That Represents Employees

If you have been searching for an employment lawyer, you may have noticed that many employment law firms focus primarily on representing employers. If a law firm represents or has represented your employer, there is a potential conflict of interest that may prohibit them from representing you. Even if there are no actual or potential conflicts of interest, many employer-side law firms are unwilling to represent employees for fear of later being unable to represent the employer. 

The reality is that employer-side law firms often lack the perspective necessary to get the results that employees deserve. If you are an employee, you need a Los Angeles employment lawyer who will fearlessly and passionately fight to protect your rights. 

A Los Angeles Employment Lawyer Providing Comprehensive Representation for Employees

At Attorneys for Employees, we have built our practice with the goal of providing full-service employee-focused representation.

  • Guidance. Clients often come to us with questions about their legal rights or obligations with respect to their current employment situation. We can listen to your story and your concerns and then provide you with a legal strategy for managing the challenges you face. 
  • Advocacy. Whether inside or outside the courtroom, working with a Los Angeles Employment Lawyer from Attorneys for Employees means that you have someone on your side 100% committed to what is best for you. Whether we are in court or negotiating an employment agreement, we are fierce advocates for our clients focused on delivering the best possible results. 
  • Litigation. Unfortunately, disputes are sometimes unavoidable. We are always prepared to file suit to protect a client’s rights, whether it is a wage violation or they have been discriminated against. We also vigorously defend workers who have been sued by their employers for breach of contract and similar claims. 

Under those three umbrellas, we provide representation to employees in the following specific matters: 

  • Harassment
  • Sexual harassment
  • Discrimination
  • Whistleblower and other types of employer retaliation 
  • Negotiation of employment contracts including executive employment contracts
  • Severance agreement negotiation 
  • Breach of contract issues
  • Family and medical leave issues
  • Reasonable accommodations
  • Wage and hour disputes
  • Wrongful termination

 Whatever your issue may be, we can help. A Los Angeles employment lawyer from Attorneys for Employees can help you get control of the situation you are facing and find a way forward. 

How Our Los Angeles Employment Lawyers Help with Workplace Lawsuits 

Filing a lawsuit against your employer can be a big step and it is natural to feel intimidated and overwhelmed. We begin the process by thoroughly assessing your case and making a candid assessment of your claim. From there, we provide you with the guidance you need to protect your job and build your case. We can help you gather the evidence you need, and when the time is right, take action to assert your rights. At every step of the way, you can rest assured that we will provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. 

Employer Retaliation

Unfortunately, asserting your rights often results in retaliation. Employers are prohibited by law from taking any adverse action against employees for exercising their rights. This means that you cannot be fired, demoted, transferred, or otherwise treated unfairly for things like refusing to participate in criminal activities, reporting discrimination, or cooperating with an investigation. In many of these situations, the employee is worried about making a bad situation worse if they have not already been terminated. If they have been terminated, the challenge is in proving that their termination was retaliatory. 

A Los Angeles employment lawyer from Attorneys for Employees understands the delicate dynamics of these cases. We can help you discretely and deftly navigate the challenges you are facing in order to protect your career. We will carefully investigate your claim and gather the evidence you need to protect yourself. 

Learn how we can help you today.

Practice Areas

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Los Angeles Employment Lawyer for Personal Assistants

Personal assistants in the entertainment and related industries have unique careers that present complex challenges. However, many do not realize that they are afforded many of the same legal protections as other workers. If you have questions about your rights under federal and state law, a Los Angeles employment lawyer for personal assistants can provide you with the answers you need.

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Los Angeles Employment Attorney for Models

Modeling is an industry that is notorious for taking advantage of its members. Because of the unique relationship between the model, the agency, and their employers, there are many legal issues that you would not normally encounter in the typical employer-employee relationship.

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Los Angeles Employment Lawyer for Actors

California, and the Greater Los Angeles Area in particular, is home to our nation’s massive entertainment industry. It employs hundreds of thousands of people, most notably actors. And while most people think only of those actors who are most famous, they do not realize that most of the actors in the entertainment industry face the same challenges as any other worker. 

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Employment Attorney for Gamers

Esports is one of the fastest-growing entertainment industries, with millions of fans around the globe. For gamers, this seems like a dream come true – they are getting paid to do something they love. But with revenues of over $1 billion, it was only a matter of time before gamers began to encounter significant labor and employment issues.

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Discrimination

Unfair treatment or discrimination in the workplace based on sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, and other protected classes is illegal in California and under federal law.

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Wage Disputes & Unpaid Wages

Wage and Hour Disputes are the most common form of employment litigation in the United States. You may be eligible for compensation if you were not provided with what you are legally entitled to under the law.

 

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Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment in the workplace is alarmingly common. It’s important to speak to a lawyer about your rights whether you are a full-time or part-time employee.

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Wrongful Termination

No matter the reason, losing your job is traumatic. You may have been wrongfully terminated if you lost your job for any reason that is illegal.

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Harassment

Workplace harassment is a serious legal issue for employees. In California, any harassment based on a person’s sex, sexual orientation, skin color, race, religious beliefs, and other protected classes is illegal.

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Medical Leave & Reasonable Accommodation

Eligible employees have the right to unpaid leave without losing their job under the FMLA. Employers must also provide reasonable accommodations in the workplace for employees with physical or mental disabilities. 

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Whistleblower & Other Retaliation

It is a brave act to blow the whistle on your employer’s misconduct, such as waste of funds, fraud, abuse, illegal conduct, and dangers to public health and safety. As a result, you may experience whistleblower retaliation including possible termination. Your rights are protected under California and federal law. 

 

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Employment Contracts

If you are being asked to sign an employment contract (or if you are dealing with a contract-related dispute), you should discuss your options with a Los Angeles employment contract attorney.

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Executive Employment Contracts

At Attorneys for Employees, we bring decades of experience to advising and representing executives during contract negotiations; and, if you’ve been offered a contract, a Los Angeles executive employment attorney at our office can guide you forward.

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Breach of Contract

An employer may breach a contract by, for example, failing to pay wages or denying benefits. If your employer broke any terms of an employment agreement, you may be able to recover damages, including lost pay, or other damages.

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Severance Agreements

Securing severance pay is primarily based on negotiation as it is not required by law in California. We can help negotiate compensation and other considerations before you sign your agreement.

Contact Us Today

What We Want You, A Hardworking Employee, To Know

We Work Hard for You.

As your potential Los Angeles employment lawyer, we want to empower you in feeling supported during this challenging time. We understand the immense stress and difficulties that can arise when you are not being paid correctly, experiencing harassment or unfair treatment, or experiencing discrimination in the workplace. 

If you’re here, you are not alone in this fight. Attorneys for Employees is dedicated to representing hard-working people who have faced unfair treatment and want to change their situation. Every day we witness the negative impact a struggle at work can have on individuals and their livelihoods. We’re here to listen, understand, and advocate on your behalf.

We Can Take You From Doubt to Triumph

Confronting your employer can be – generally is – a daunting prospect. It’s natural to feel hesitant – you’re likely worried about the potential repercussions or the fear of losing your job and how that can uproot your life. We recognize and respect the gravity of your situation. We get it – the stress, the worry, the anger. As your legal counsel, we aim to protect your rights, demand that you are treated fairly, and ensure you are seen and heard. 

When you hire our law firm, you are not just seeking legal representation; you are gaining a partner who will stand by you every step of the way. Our experienced team of attorneys focuses in employment law. That means we have the knowledge, resources, and determination to fight for your best interests. We investigate your case, gather evidence, and build a strong legal strategy.

Our difference makers strive to create a supportive and nurturing environment for every employee. We genuinely care about your well-being and are here to provide guidance, answer your questions, and address your concerns – we know you have them! Your voice matters, and we want to ensure that it’s heard. Together, we can navigate the legal process and work toward a resolution that protects your rights and future.

Your Claim Helps the Greater Good

Remember, taking action can have a ripple effect beyond your circumstances. By standing up against unfair treatment, you not only seek justice for yourself but also help to foster a workplace environment that respects and values the rights of all employees. Your courage and determination can inspire others to come forward and end these unjust practices.

The First Step is Empowering

We encourage you to take the first step toward reclaiming your rights by scheduling a confidential consultation with a Los Angeles employment lawyer. During this meeting, we will discuss the details of your case, address your concerns, and outline the legal options available to you. 

Not sure if you need a lawyer? Doubting whether your employer broke the law? Please don’t hesitate to contact us to determine if you have an employment law case. We’re here to assist you and look forward to the opportunity to help you reclaim your rights and restore your peace of mind.

Learn how we can help you today.

Testimonials

“Gerald Sauer and Sonya Goodwin helped to resolve my wrongful termination/discrimination dispute with my former employer. Having worked so hard for many years as a C-suite corporate executive, it was difficult to acknowledge that I was being treated unfairly and was a victim of discrimination. Gerald and Sonya held my hand through the entire process and gave me the confidence to stand up for myself. They were top notch and very skilled in developing legal strategies, and they were extremely patient. They fought for me every step of the way and put my interests first. After multiple mediation sessions, they guided me to a fair and equitable resolution with my former employer.  I highly recommend them! ”

Anonymous, C-Level Executive

“I highly recommend Gerald and Sonya to represent employees.  In my case, they knew and explained the law, assessed all of the pros and cons involving my situation and guided me to a favorable resolution.  I was impressed by their tenacity in continuing to negotiate a settlement after a full-day mediation had failed to result in a settlement.  The bottom-line is that they care about their clients and do their utmost to passionately represent their interests.”

Kevin, Former Vice President, Footwear Company