Most Common Employer Violations in California

As a worker in California, you’re protected by some of the strongest labor laws in the country. But unfortunately, that doesn’t totally prevent situations where your rights are violated by the company or people you work for–and some are more common than others. Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers can help. Set up a free consultation today to talk about your options.

What Are Some of the Most Common Employer Violations in California?

You spend a big part of your life at work—often more time than you do at home with your family. So it makes sense to expect your employer to create a safe and respectful place to work. A good workplace helps people do their best. But when employers cut corners, ignore problems, or break the law, it can take a serious toll. Maybe you’re worried about losing your job, or you’ve already been mistreated or even fired unfairly. Below are some of the most common ways employers in California violate your rights as a worker—and what those violations can look like:

• Wage and hour violations – California has some of the toughest wage and hour laws in the country–but violations still happen every day. Most of the time, it happens when your employer:
  
  
  • Doesn’t pay minimum wage or overtime
  • Delays your final paychecks after you leave a job
  • Skips legally required meal and rest breaks
  • Misclassifies you or other workers as independent contractors to avoid providing benefits
  • Doesn’t carry workers’ comp insurance
    
    

Employers may cut corners–especially in fast-paced industries like retail, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. Some employers may not understand the law; others may knowingly break it to save money. Either way, workers are the ones who lose out—unless they take action.

• Wrongful termination – Being let go from a job is hard enough. But if you were fired for reasons that violate California law, you may have grounds for a wrongful termination claim. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) makes it illegal for employers to fire someone based on protected personal traits, including:
  
  
  • Race or ethnicity
  • Religion or religious dress
  • Age (if you’re 40 or older)
  • Gender identity or expression
  • Sexual orientation
  • Marital status
  • Pregnancy or parental status
  • Disability, medical condition, or genetic info
  • Military or veteran status
  • National origin or ancestry
  • Requesting protected medical or family leave
    
    

FEHA also protects you if you’re fired for standing up against illegal practices–this is called retaliation. Retaliation can look like being demoted, excluded from meetings, reassigned to worse shifts, or suddenly receiving poor performance reviews.

Many wrongful terminations happen under the radar–disguised as layoffs, policy violations, or performance issues. Employers may retaliate after a worker complains about discrimination, harassment, or wage violations, hoping the employee won’t push back.

• Whistleblower protections – In California, you’re legally protected when you report your employer for breaking the law. Whether it’s fraud, unsafe working conditions, wage theft, or any other violation, you’re considered a whistleblower when you report it to a supervisor or government agency.
  
  

Workers are often the first to spot illegal or unethical practices. But reporting them puts you in a vulnerable spot—some employers respond with threats, terminations, or other forms of retaliation. That’s why strong protections exist—and why retaliation still ends up in court so often.

• Invasion of your privacy at the workplace – California gives workers stronger privacy rights than most states. Employers can’t record you without consent, access personal medical or credit records without cause, or overstep when monitoring your online activity by doing things like:
  
  
  • Hidden video or audio recording at work
  • Drug testing without clear justification
  • Monitoring emails or web browsing without limits
  • Asking about arrest records that shouldn’t be considered
    
    

Technology makes it easier for employers to track, monitor, or collect personal data. But they don’t always follow the rules about consent, scope, or relevance. And workers often don’t know when their privacy has been crossed until it’s too late.

• Breach of employment contracts – Not all job agreements are in writing—but even verbal promises or company policies can count as contracts under California law. When an employer breaks a promise about job duties, wages, discipline, or termination terms, that could be a breach. Common issues include:
  
  
  • Not paying what was promised
  • Changing job duties without agreement
  • Firing someone before the end of a contract term
  • Not honoring severance or notice terms
    
    

Many workers don’t even realize they have a binding agreement until something goes wrong. And employers may try to claim it was “at-will” even when clear expectations were set. These cases can get messy without legal help.

Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers Take Action Against Employer Violations in California

If you’re dealing with mistreatment at work, the first step is understanding your rights under California law. Whether you’ve been wrongfully fired, underpaid, harassed, or retaliated against, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to handle it alone, either.

At Ferraro Vega Employment Lawyers, we help workers across California make sense of what’s happened, what their rights are, and what legal options they have. It’s not easy to stand up and speak out, but with a team that knows the law and knows how to protect you, it becomes a whole lot more manageable. Don’t hesitate–set up a free consultation today to get started.