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Today, February 5th, 2013, marks 20 years since the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The FMLA was enacted to provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year to recover from a serious health condition, care for a seriously ill family member, or bond with a… Continue reading 20 Years of FMLA: Sharon Terman Publishes Op-ed on Family Leave

Both President Obama and a bipartisan group of Senators unveiled plans for overhauling our nation’s immigration system this week, taking an important first step toward much needed comprehensive immigration reform.  We are encouraged that our leaders are considering a pathway to citizenship and that the President proposes recognizing the rights of same-sex families for immigration… Continue reading Immigration Reform Must Respect Rights of Workers and Non-English Speakers

On January 26, 2013, staff attorney Mike Gaitley (far right in picture) journeyed to Watsonville, California as part of a “Justice Bus” legal clinic for low-wage workers.  The Justice Bus, a project of One Justice, brings law students to rural locations in California where access to legal services is often limited.

January is Trafficking Awareness Month, a good time to think about how to identify victims of this terrible human rights violation and how best to advocate for them.  According to the International Labor Organization, over three-quarters of the people trafficked across the globe are estimated to be involved in forced labor.  They are extracting, harvesting,… Continue reading LAS-ELC to Co-Host Trafficking Workshop on January 31st

Underscoring California’s role as a leader in advancing the rights of individuals with disabilities, regulations implementing the disability provisions of the Fair Employment and Housing Act were approved by the Office of Administrative Law on December 20, 2012.  Effective December 31, 2012, the new rules clarify the protections provided by state and federal statutes, which… Continue reading New Regulations Affirm Rights of Californians With Disabilities

On January 17th, LAS-ELC will be co-sponsoring the 2013 Women’s Policy Summit, Advancing Women’s Health, Wealth & Power, in Sacramento.  Join us for a unique opportunity to learn what state legislators and leading advocates identify as top priorities for improving the health and well-being of California’s diverse communities of women and girls.

Every year, 6.6 million people in the United States are affected by stalking, defined as willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following or harassing another person and threatening them, causing them to fear for their safety or that of their family.  1 in 6 women and 1 in 19 men have experienced stalking, which has serious emotional,… Continue reading January is National Stalking Awareness Month

May 8, 2012—Today Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and 63 cosponsors, including Jackie Speier, Susan Davis, and Anna Eshoo of California, will introduce the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).  This legislation would require employers to provide reasonable job modifications that would allow pregnant women to continue working and supporting their families. “Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center is pleased to endorse… Continue reading Members of Congress and Advocates Announce Federal Legislation Protecting Pregnant Workers from Discrimination