California Labor and Employment Law

Can My Boss Fire Me at Any Time for Any Reason? What is “at will”?

“At-Will”. California is an “at-will” employment state. What does this mean? In most cases, it means that your boss can fire you at any time for almost any reason or no reason at all. She can fire you because she

1. doesn’t like you
2. thinks you’re too tall or short
3. thinks you talk too much or too little
4. is upset you didn’t say “Good Morning” to her in the right way
5. is mad you made the coffee too strong and forgot the cream
6. dislikes your shirt
7. thinks you’re too fat or thin
8. thinks you’re too ugly or good-looking
9. mistakenly thinks you did something that you didn’t
10. is in a bad mood and you happen to be the closest one to her
11. and on and on.

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I’ve Lost My Job – How Do I Get Unemployment Benefits?

Losing your job and being unemployed is no fun. But that doesn’t mean you have to lose your sense of humor. Go here to watch cartoonist Odd Todd’s take on losing his job.

Now you’ve hopefully gained some perspective. Back to the task at hand.

Benefits

To help you get back on your feet and into your next job, the federal government has established the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program. This is a federal (more…)

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Can My Employer Break My Employment Contract? Can I?

Whenever it comes to contracts, the answer is always the same: it depends on what the contract says. A contract is a contract is a contract. Neither you nor your employer can breach a contract without facing the consequences. That is, unless the contract says it’s ok. This is why it is so important that employees keep copies of any contracts they have signed with their employers. If you don’t have a copy of your contract, your employer is required by law to give you one if you request it. To see how, go to this post.

These are important provisions to look for in your contract: (more…)

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