You have the right to be free from hate violence or threats of hate violence at work, in your home, at school, and in other situations.
You may have the right — under California’s Ralph Civil Rights Act — to back pay, damages, or compensation, if you experience violence, harassment, intimidation, or threats of violence that occur specifically because of one of your personal characteristics.
Archives: Fact Sheets
The Form I-9 and Document Abuse: What You Need to Know About Verifying Your Work Status with your Employer
Read this fact sheet to understand your rights when providing identification documents at work and to learn about document abuse—what it is, when it happens, and what actions you can take. What documents am I required to submit when I start a job? Employers must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form, also known as a… Continue reading The Form I-9 and Document Abuse: What You Need to Know About Verifying Your Work Status with your Employer
Disabilities in the Workplace: Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing
1. May my employer regulate my use of alcohol and illegal drugs at the workplace? Yes. The federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the major laws covering individuals with disabilities, do not affect your employer’s right to prohibit alcohol and illegal drug use at the workplace. Employment… Continue reading Disabilities in the Workplace: Drug and Alcohol Use and Testing
Employer Bankruptcy, Sale, or Abandonment
What are my rights if my employer declares bankruptcy? If your employer has filed for bankruptcy, it means that the business is no longer able to pay off its debts to its creditors, and the company has asked the court to help it either plan a repayment schedule (“Chapter 11” bankruptcy) or sell off all… Continue reading Employer Bankruptcy, Sale, or Abandonment
The W.A.R.N. Act: Mass Layoffs or Business/Plant Closings
Can my employer lay me off without any warning? Maybe. The WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) Act requires businesses who employ over 100 workers to either give their employees 60 days’ notice in writing of a mass layoff or plant closing, or to pay the employees if they fail to give the notice. The… Continue reading The W.A.R.N. Act: Mass Layoffs or Business/Plant Closings
False Imprisonment in the Workplace
What is False Imprisonment? False imprisonment happens when an employee is intentionally and illegally held against his or her will. False imprisonment in the workplace usually occurs when an overzealous employer investigates allegations of employee wrongdoing and tries to question the employee or coerce a confession. Do I have to be forcefully restrained? No. False… Continue reading False Imprisonment in the Workplace
SSA No-Match Letter
What is a Social Security Administration “no-match letter”? The Social Security Administration (“SSA”) sends “no-match letters”[1] to businesses when their employees’ names and Social Security numbers (“SSNs”) don’t exactly match those in the SSA’s files, based on information the SSA gets each year from the employer. There are many possible reasons for a “no-match.” For… Continue reading SSA No-Match Letter
I-9 Audits
What is Form I-9? Form I-9[1] is the federal government form employers must have new employees complete within 3 days of hire. It shows that an employee can legally work in the United States. The I-9 form contains lists of documents that employees can use to verify their work authorization and identity.[2] Employees have the… Continue reading I-9 Audits
Rights At Work After Miscarriage, End Of Pregnancy, Or Other Reproductive Loss
Experiencing a miscarriage, stillbirth, or end of pregnancy can be difficult. Families may have the right to leave, pay, and accommodations to help with recovery. Laws that provide rights related to pregnancy and childbirth also cover the loss or end of a pregnancy. All the legal protections and benefits discussed here.