California labor laws are highly complex and touch on a variety of issues, with different aspects of these rules and regulations being breached by employers every day.

At Theory Law, our dedicated employment law team has helped clients successfully navigate legal workplace issues, including the following:

• Workplace Discrimination: Despite workplace discrimination being strictly outlawed on both the California State and federal level, it is still a persistent issue for many workers in San Francisco. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act clearly state the illegal nature of workplace discrimination, such as discrimination based on pregnancy status, disability, gender, race, or age.
• Wage and Hour Violations: The state of California has stringent wage and hour rules and regulations that ensure workers receive fair payment for their labor, and that they are not exploited. Unfortunately, wage and hour violations are common in California, with lower wage workers often being denied the payment they’re entitled to.
• Failure to Pay Overtime: Workers can commonly face challenges with not being paid for overtime. Under California law, employers need to pay 5 times the regular rate per hour if a worker works over 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week. On 12-hour work days or greater, double pay is required. Employers commonly attempt to evade these laws, working to exploit their workers in order to maximize profits.
• Failure to Pay Minimum Wage: Due to high living expenses, San Francisco has one of the highest minimum wage requirements in the nation. If your employer is not paying you according to local requirements, you may be entitled to back pay and other forms of compensation. Furthermore, if your employer fails to provide you with adequate meals and rest breaks according to the law, an experienced lawyer from our firm can help you receive compensation.
• Workplace Harassment: Workers in San Francisco expect to work in an environment where they are not subject to violence or harassment. Harassment is defined under the law as any unwelcome behavior towards a person based on a protected characteristic, such as religion, race, or gender, which ultimately leads to an abusive or hostile work environment.
• Sexual Harassment: Sexual harassment still remains a persistent issue in San Francisco and surrounding areas, which can include verbal, visual, or physical harassment of a sexual nature, consensual sexual advances, and quid pro quo harassment. If you are facing any form of harassment in the workplace, a compassionate attorney from our firm can help you pursue legal options to put an end to it and pursue the compensation you’re entitled to.

• Wrongful Termination: Wrongful termination happens when a worker is fired for a reason that is against the law. As California is an at-will state, workers and employers can leave an employment relationship without providing an adequate reason at any time. However, there are multiple exceptions where termination can be illegal, which could be grounds for a lawsuit.

An experienced and compassionate lawyer from our firm understands how stressful and overwhelming it can be to face violations by your employer. The impacts of such violations can leave you and your family with questions about your finances and next steps. No matter what violations you may be facing by your employer, our team has the answers you need to ensure you can continue to work and earn an appropriate wage to support you and your family.