Farmworkers in California have long suffered from under-reported sexual harassment in the fields. A recent settlement involving 10 agricultural workers in the Central Valley could signal a shift in this culture of abuse. The settlement, offered by dried fruit processor Zoria Farms, will provide the sexual harassment victims with more than $300,000, ending a long-term inquiry into the company's employee conduct.
Former McDonald's employees claim age discrimnation in firing
A 63-year-old woman along with six of her co-workers have filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against McDonald's Restaurants of California Inc. The six woman and one man are suing the company alleging that they were all fired because they are over the age of 40. The lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages, alleges wrongful termination, age discrimination and the intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Information on genetic discrimination
Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 makes it illegal for an employer to discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of genetic information.
Are Uber drivers employees or contractors?
Over the past year, the value of Uber has gone through the roof. While this may be good news for company founders, the drivers that "make or break" the service continue to face a variety of questions.
What you should know about filing a wage claim
Although there are some exceptions to the minimum wage laws, unless you are one of the exceptions, your employer is legally obligated to pay you at least the federal minimum wage or the minimum wage that is mandated by a state. This amount is determined by whichever wage amount is higher. If you qualify for minimum wage, but find that your employer is paying you less than the legally-mandated amount, by law you can file a lawsuit or make a wage claim against your employer.
Gay rights advocates turn attention to workplace discrimination
Although the Supreme Court has yet to decide whether or not same-sex marriage is protected by the constitution, that hasn't stopped gay rights groups from expecting a victory. Meanwhile, as they await the official court ruling sometime later this month, they are already looking ahead for their next big fight -- getting laws passed on the federal level to ensure protection in the workplace against discrimination of gays and transgenders.
The federal labor department is serious about sexual harassment
The Department of Labor continues to play a big role in preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. While the agency will never be able to completely end such behavior, it can take certain steps to help raise awareness.
Are you legally required to take a lunch break in California?
Although most employees usually look forward to taking a lunch break and getting away from their job for a little while, there are also those who would rather work through their lunch and stay on the clock. This can sometimes be a problem for employers, however, who fear that by allowing an employee to do so, they are perhaps breaking the law.
PennySaver being investigated for violation of labor laws
According to California's Labor Commissioner, the PennySaver is being investigated with regard to questions of whether the company violated labor law when it laid off nearly 700 employees without any notice.
