In The Media

Carole Vigne, Director of LAAW's Wage Protection Program, speaks with the Los Angeles Times about the logistical hurdles many workers are experiencing in trying to file unemployment insurance claims in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. Carole speaks to how workers are likely to see significant delays in the processing of these claims due to staffing constraints at the Employment Development Department (EDD).

Christopher Ho, director of LAAW's National Origin and Immigrants' Rights Program, speaks with The Counter about the lack of a safety net for undocumented restaurant workers during the Covid-19 crisis. The article discusses the work of advocates to provide relief funds to undocumented workers in the short-term as well as the long-term efforts to create structural change.

LAAW attorney Katherine Wutchiett speaks to the San Francisco Chronicle about the issues facing low-wage workers during the COVID-19 crisis and the need for significant improvements to the social safety net during this crisis and beyond. The article also discusses a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom from LAAW and a coalition of over 120 California labor, family advocacy, legal, civil rights and other groups requesting executive action to protect workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Work & Family Program Director Sharon Terman provides practical advice to workers about their rights to Unemployment Insurance and other supports that help workers replace lost income or keep their jobs during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Legal Aid at Work's own Julia Parish is joined by other experts to talk about what resources are available for people who may be missing a paycheck, and what the lack of work means for contract workers.

Bloomberg news covers LAAW's lawsuit against Juul Labs, Inc. for unlawfully misclassifying over 400 workers on its failed pro-vaping ballot measure in San Francisco.

Discrimination against high weight people is still legal in 49 states—including California—and is on the rise. Elizabeth Kristen and other experts discuss this troubling practice on CNBC.

As quoted in the story, the client had this to say about the lawsuit: “When Harris Ranch fired me, I felt like I had been thrown away like a used rag . . . . I sought legal help because I want Harris to respect my and other workers’ rights.”

LAAW’s Wage Protection Program Director, Carole Vigne, discusses in Eater.com how so-called "gig economy" staffing apps for the Restaurant industry may be contributing to misclassification of on-demand restaurant workers. “There’s no question that these workers who are going into restaurants, even on a part-time or temporary basis, are employees . . . the real question is who is the employer (the hiring app and/or the third-party business), and consequently, who is liable if workers are misclassified?”