Workers in California often assume that because religious beliefs are private, they never have to explain anything about their religion when requesting a workplace accommodation. While it’s true that employers cannot demand intrusive details, many employees make the opposite mistake: they refuse to provide even the basic information needed for the employer to evaluate their request.
Under both Title VII
Five Costly Legal Mistakes California Startups Should Avoid With Their Employees
Some of the most common legal mistakes that California tech startups and other small employers make with their employees are also the easiest to avoid:
California Legislative Update: Legislature’s Pens Down, Governor Gets to Work
Seyfarth Synopsis: The California Legislature concluded its 2024-2025 session in the wee hours of September 13, 2025, and sent the last of its approved bills to Governor Newsom for consideration. The Governor has until October 13 to approve or veto a variety of bills impacting employers in California.
The California Legislature put pencils down on September 13, 2025, and sent
Remote Work as An Accommodation To An Employee’s Disability Under California Law
As remote work continues to reshape the workplace, both California employees and employers are grappling with a key question:When must an employer allow remote work as a reasonable accommodation to an employee’s disability or serious medical condition under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA)?
FEHA & Reasonable Accommodation Basics
FEHA requires California employers with five or more employees to
Avoid This Mistake When Asking Your Manager or HR for Anything
The post Avoid This Mistake When Asking Your Manager or HR for Anything appeared first on San Francisco Employment Law Firm Blog.
How Reverse Discrimination and DEI Policies Can Backfire On Employers
The post How Reverse Discrimination and DEI Policies Can Backfire On Employers appeared first on San Francisco Employment Law Firm Blog.
Which Workplace Discrimination Cases Are Worth Pursuing
Winning any civil case, including an employment discrimination case, requires proving (1) liability and (2) damages (past and future wage loss, emotional distress, in some cases punitive damages). Because liability in many, if not most, wrongful termination and discrimination cases is disputed by employers, a practical assessment of how likely you are to prove liability and damages is essential before
How To Correctly Notify Your Employer Of Your Disability
An employer who isn’t aware of your disability prior to firing you for taking several days off work due to that condition cannot possibly be held liable for disability discrimination based on the disability that the employer simply didn’t know about. This is both logical and fair.
In Avila v Continental Airlines, Inc. (2008), the employee was terminated for missing
“But Our Agreement Says They Are An Independent Contractor!” – Navigating “Employee” and “Independent Contractor” Determinations Under the Public Employees’ Retirement Law
If your agency is a contracting agency with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), chances are you have heard about the important distinctions between an “employee” and an “independent contractor” under the Public Employees’ Retirement Law (PERL). Whether an individual is an “employee” or an “independent contractor” determines whether the individual must be enrolled in CalPERS under certain circumstances
Wage & Hour: Standby and Call Back Pay and its Implications Under the FLSA
We are excited to introduce our video series – Wage & Hour Issues in the Workplace. In these videos, members of LCW’s Wage & Hour practice group will provide various tips that can be implemented in your workplace. We hope that you will find these clips informative and helpful!