Tips for Employees
How Much Time Do Lawsuits Take? (2023)
“You’ll be hearing from my lawyer!” Famous last words. But what does bringing a lawsuit really mean? Make no mistake about it, a lawsuit can be a big commitment, not just in terms of money, but also in time. Your time. I’ve already talked about the costs involved. You can read all about it at…
Read MoreFree Pamphlets on Labor and Employment Laws (2023)
The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) publishes numerous free pamphlets on California labor and employment laws. These pamphlets provide a brief but helpful and easy-to-understand explanation of employee rights under
Read MoreTip-Pooling – Can My Employer Take My Tips and How? (2023)
Some History For better or worse, tipping has become an accepted part of American commerce. It is a practice that first emerged in the late 1800s. In 1917, the California legislature passed a law for the first time prohibiting employers from taking any portion of employees’ tips. However, the courts struck down the law…
Read MoreTip for Unemployed Job Seekers … Stay Positive!
And the hits just keeps on coming. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , US unemployment steadily marched upward from 5.0% in May 2008 to 7.2% in January 2009. Meanwhile, the LA Times reports the U.S. economy lost a record 2.6 million jobs in 2008 and that rate is expected to accelerate markedly in…
Read MoreHow Much Do Lawsuits Cost?
People in the US love to rail about the fact that there are too many lawsuits, too many greedy plaintiffs gaming the system, too many people refusing to take responsibility for their own errors. Numerous websites have sprung up
Read MoreH1-B Visa Workers: Know Your Rights
I had an interesting call from a client today. Let’s call him Roger. Roger is originally from India but had recently come to California to work for a software company on an H1-B visa, a special visa to allow foreigners with special skills to work in the US. Company X paid for his airplane ticket,…
Read More10 Signs You’re About to be Fired (2023)
Getting fired doesn’t always involve a dramatic showdown meeting with your boss who tells you to pack your things and get out. In an age where employers are paranoid about getting sued by fired employees, firing an employee is often more complicated, involving many subtle steps. As an employee, it’s up to you to spot…
Read MoreWhat Kind of Lawyer Do I Need? (2023)
Here’s a quiz: What kind of lawyer do you need for the following situations? a. Your landlord won’t return your deposit even though you moved out of your apartment months ago. b. Your boss has wrongfully terminated you because you told him you were pregnant and need time off. c. Your vintage car has been…
Read MoreCan My Employer Monitor My Web Surfing or Emails at Work? (2023)
Absolutely, yes. And what’s worse, they probably are. Employee surveillance has never been easier thanks to advances in technology and the emergence of computers and the Internet. Employers are taking advantage like never before. According to a recent survey conducted by the
Read MoreMy Boss, the Equal Opportunity Jerk
Every office has got one. A jerk whose sole mission in the workplace is to make everyone else miserable. If you’re really unlucky, that jerk happens to be your boss. I get a lot of calls from people that go something like this: “My boss is a total jerk. He constantly yells at everyone and…
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