A recent opinion by the California Supreme Court applied what media outlets were described as a new legal test that employers will have to use when determining whether their workers are truly employees or independent contractors. Under this new test, which only applies when it comes to wage and hour violations, an employer who wants to classify a worker as an independent contractor has to establish that its worker is, legally and in practice, free to determine how to do his or her work. The employer can only be concerned with the end result.
Don't navigate situations of wage theft alone
A previous post on this blog talked about some tricks Los Angeles employers may use to deprive their lower paid, oftentimes hourly workers even the little bit of money they make.
3 examples of wage theft in California
Making a living in California is difficult, especially if you work for minimum wage. Unfortunately, some employers are making it even harder for workers like you by committing wage theft. According to recent statistics about wage theft, low-wage employees in California lose 22 percent of their earnings a year because of minimum wage violations. That comes out to roughly $64 a week per worker.
Many flight attendants still experience sexual harassment
People in Los Angeles who take a trip on an airplane, whether for work or pleasure, count on their flight attendants to make sure the flight is comfortable and safe. Moreover, flight attendants, like any other workers, expect to be treated fairly while on-the-job. However, according to a recent survey of flight attendants who work for the major airlines, sexual harassment remains a huge problem in the industry. The survey was conducted by the Association of Flight Attendants, a trade union that, as its name implies, represents the flight crew members who, first and foremost, are responsible for keeping airline passengers safe.
Congress mulling over reform in wake of #MeToo movement
Residents of California may be interested to learn that, in the wake of the ongoing public backlash against sexual harassment, Congress is considering changes in the Congressional Accountability Act. As its name implies, under this law Congressional leaders must follow the federal laws that they are charged with making on behalf of the general public. Among other things, this Act covers the process by which complaints alleging sexual harassment by members of Congress get handled.
Representation in retaliation claims
As a pervious posts on this blog discussed, employees in California are protected under state and federal laws from being punished at work simply for exercising certain legal or basic civil rights. They are also protected from retaliation for reporting an employer's violations of state or federal law, so long as they follow the terms of the state's whistleblower statute when doing so.
