It’s not uncommon for California employers to offer students and recent graduates unpaid internships instead of paid employment opportunities. They may present these internships as beneficial learning opportunities. However, you may wonder whether it’s legal to offer unpaid internships in California. The answer is “sometimes.” The lawfulness of an unpaid internship depends on a number of factors. Does an Unpaid
California workers are protected by a variety of federal and state labor and employment laws. The Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) is a state law that gives employees the right to file lawsuits against their employers for labor law violations. A PAGA claim is different from other lawsuits. The employee is not suing their employer for compensation of damages. Rather,
What is the difference between the EEOC and the DFEH? The simple answer is that the EEOC stands for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. It is an independent agency within the U.S. government responsible for enforcing federal laws against workplace discrimination. California DFEH stands for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. It falls under the Business, Consumer Affairs,
Being misclassified as an independent contractor can deny you the benefits and rights of an employee in California. For example, you may not be protected for work-related injuries, and you could pay higher taxes as a self-employed individual. In addition, as an independent contractor, you would not be entitled to unemployment benefits if you are fired or laid off. State
Many workers shifted to work from home during the state of emergency declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This required many employers and employees to adapt as they had never accommodated remote work before. California provides greater protection for workers than almost every other state in the country. More importantly, California’s labor laws apply to remote workers in the same
Has your employer denied your request for time off? Are you wondering if that is legal in California? The answer is “possibly.” California wage and hour laws do not force employers to give employees paid vacation time or paid time off (PTO). However, if your employer provides PTO, there are rules your employer must follow. Also, some laws require employers
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