News

A List of Relief Funds for Undocumented Workers in California

To assist undocumented workers who have lost their jobs or income as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, Legal Aid at Work has compiled a list of known relief funds for undocumented workers.  We will be updating this list as new information becomes available. For more information on the job-related legal rights of undocumented workers, … Continue reading “A List of Relief Funds for Undocumented Workers in California”

Jenna Gerry discusses in the SF Chronicle the Language Barriers that Workers Experience When trying to Access Unemployment Insurance

We Can Level the Playing Field for Girls in Sports

Every day, girls and young women face persistent, blatant gender inequities in school and community sports in towns and cities throughout the nation. Across the U.S., even though girls want to play in greater numbers, high schools give one million more athletic opportunities to boys compared to girls, including 100,000+ more in California. In community … Continue reading “We Can Level the Playing Field for Girls in Sports”

(Photo by Ted Eytan**)

LAAW Unveils New Resources for LGBTQ Workers and Introduces Skadden Fellow Jared Odessky

LAAW is excited to share our updated resources for LGBTQ workers in California, and to introduce Jared Odessky, who will provide expanded legal services for LGBTQ workers. Our new fact sheet on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination and Harassment provides up-to-date information about workers’ legal rights under federal and state anti-discrimination law. Among other revisions, the … Continue reading “LAAW Unveils New Resources for LGBTQ Workers and Introduces Skadden Fellow Jared Odessky”

Statement of Legal Aid at Work President Joan Graff on the Violent Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6

January 6, 2021 will go down in history as a day of ignominy and reckoning in our Nation. We saw the very heart of our democracy under violent attack by right wing rioters aiming to disrupt the orderly transfer of power to the duly and fairly elected President and Vice-President elect—Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. … Continue reading “Statement of Legal Aid at Work President Joan Graff on the Violent Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6”

115 Workers’ Rights Organizations Call on California Legislature to Expand Emergency Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19 Crisis

Today, the California Work & Family Coalition, the California Employment Lawyers Association, Legal Aid at Work, United Food and Commercial Workers Western States Council, and 111 other organizations join in asking Governor Newsom and the California Legislature to act now to protect California’s families.  In our joint letter we ask for immediate action to expand … Continue reading “115 Workers’ Rights Organizations Call on California Legislature to Expand Emergency Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19 Crisis”

The SF Chronicle Discusses LAAW’s Recent Settlement on Behalf of Transgender Police Officer

Mary Jo Shartsis, 1942-2021

We mourn the loss of our cherished Board member and leader, who died on January 2nd, 2021. Mary Jo Shartsis, who was a litigation partner at Shartsis Friese for much of her career, was a force bringing vitality, energy, and vision to Legal Aid at Work and other institutions fortunate enough to have her involvement. … Continue reading “Mary Jo Shartsis, 1942-2021”

Millions of California Workers to Start 2021 Without Paid Sick Days

Advocates Call on the State Legislature to Take Action as Federal and State Paid Leave Laws Expire

Sacramento, California—On January 1, 2021, millions of California workers will lose access to emergency paid sick days during a surge in COVID-19 cases. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and other federal and state laws that extended paid time off in 2020 are set to expire at midnight on December 31, leaving many working … Continue reading “Millions of California Workers to Start 2021 Without Paid Sick Days”