Los Banos Labor and Employment Lawyers

Living and working in Los Banos is typically an enjoyable experience. Located in the heart of Merced County, Los Banos offers great weather, diverse job opportunities, and a welcoming community of around 46,000 residents.

When you go to work in Los Banos or anywhere else in California, you have the right to do so in an environment that is safe and free from mistreatment. Whether it be discrimination, harassment, or violations of your privacy, wages or hours worked, there are several legal protections that you and other workers are provided by California law. Still, just because these legal protections are in place doesn’t mean employers follow them. When your rights are violated, you need experience and knowledge on your side.

Maison Law Stands Up For Workers in Los Banos

At Maison Law, we believe that everyone deserves to work in an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and other forms of mistreatment. We are committed to fighting for the rights of our clients and holding employers accountable for their actions. Whether you have been wrongfully terminated, denied benefits, or subjected to unlawful discrimination, we are here to help.

Our team of experienced California employment lawyers has a deep understanding of the complex laws and regulations governing the workplace, and we know how to effectively navigate the legal system to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients. We work tirelessly to protect our client’s rights and ensure that they receive the compensation and justice they deserve. If you are in need of legal help, contact us today for a free consultation.

What Does the Workforce in Los Banos Look Like?

Like many other cities in the Central Valley region, Los Banos has a diverse workforce across a range of industries and occupations. The city’s economy is heavily driven by agriculture, with many residents working in farming, food processing, and related industries. With its location in the San Joaquin Valley–one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the world–, the city is home to many farms and agricultural businesses that grow a variety of crops, including almonds, tomatoes, cotton, and grapes.

In addition to agriculture, Los Banos is home to a growing number of industries that provide employment, including:

• Education – Los Banos is home to several schools operated by the Los Banos Unified School District, as well as other institutions like Merced College Los Banos Campus, and UC Merced’s Center for Educational Partnerships. These schools provide employment opportunities for teachers, administrators, and various support staff throughout the city.
  
  
• Healthcare – Los Banos has a number of healthcare providers, including Memorial Hospital Los Banos, which employs a number of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. There are also many smaller clinics and medical offices in the city.
  
  
• Manufacturing – Los Banos has a small but growing manufacturing sector, with businesses producing a range of products including wood products, plastics, and metal goods.
  
  
• Construction – The construction industry is also a significant employer in Los Banos, with many businesses involved in residential and commercial construction projects.
  
  
• Hospitality and tourism – Los Banos is located near several popular tourist attractions, including Pinnacles National Park and San Luis Reservoir. As a result, the hospitality and tourism industry is a growing employer in the city, with businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and recreational facilities providing employment opportunities.

What Are California’s Employment Laws?

No matter what industry you work in, California’s various employment laws apply to virtually every workplace in Los Banos. At the same time, employment law and its surrounding issues can be very complex. Still, these laws cover a wide range of workplace-related issues:

Discrimination and Harassment

One of the main workplace protections for California workers relates to being subjected to discrimination and harassment. These workers who have certain “protected characteristics”, have protection from unlawful discrimination and harassment by their employer. Under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the following are considered protected characteristics in the workplace:

• Race
• Color
• Religion
• Age
• Gender identity, gender expression
• Sexual orientation
• Pregnancy
• Marital status
• Medical Condition
• Military or veteran status
• National origin
• Ancestry
• Disability
• Genetic information
• Victims of domestic violence
• Request for Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave
• Request for California Family Rights Act (CRFA) leave
• Request for leave for your serious health condition
• Request for Pregnancy Disability Leave

Wrongful Termination

Generally speaking, employees in California are protected from being wrongfully (illegally) terminated by their employer. Usually, these protections are in place for those workers that are part of a protected class under the FEHA, or have engaged in a “protected activity”, like:

• Reporting illegal activity
• Refusing to engage in unlawful conduct
• Taken time off for family or medical leave

The California Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA) provides further protection from retaliation for any employee that speaks out against their employer’s illegal activity, and the FEHA has similar anti-retaliation protections. Retaliation, in terms of the workplace, is any “adverse action” taken against a worker for voicing concerns about illegal activity in the workplace. Usually, retaliation occurs in the following ways:

• Being fired or demoted
• Having your pay or hours reduced
• Being denied a promotion or transfer
• Seeing an increase in scrutiny or monitoring of your job performance
• Being reassigned to a less desirable position or shift
• Being denied training or educational opportunities
• Suffering intimidation or threats
• Suffering verbal or physical abuse
• Being isolated or excluded from meetings or work-related activities
• Unjustified negative performance evaluations or disciplinary actions

Wage and Hour Violations

The California Labor Code lays out specific requirements every employer in Los Banos–and California–have to follow relating to how they pay you and the timeframe in which they have to pay you. Known as wage and hour protections, these laws include:

• Providing a minimum wage – California has a minimum wage requirement of $15.50 per hour, which is higher than the federal minimum wage. Employers must pay their employees the higher of the state or federal minimum wage.
• Providing overtime pay – Non-exempt (hourly) employees are entitled to overtime pay for any hours worked in excess of 8 hours per day or 40 hours per week. Overtime pay is 1.5 times the employee’s regular rate of pay.
• Providing meal and rest breaks – Hourly employees are also entitled to paid meal and rest breaks in California. Workers are to be provided a 30-minute meal break for every five hours worked and a 10-minute rest break for every four hours worked.
• Final paycheck laws – When an employee is terminated, the employer is required to pay all earned wages and unused vacation time within a specific timeframe, currently at the time of termination. Failing to do so opens the employer up to “waiting time” penalties.

Violations of privacy

California has enacted various workplace privacy laws that protect employees from privacy violations, such as:

• Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA) – This law requires employers to maintain the confidentiality of an employee’s medical information and prohibits them from disclosing it without the employee’s written consent.
  
  
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – This law requires employers to provide employees with notice of the types of personal information collected about them and the purposes for which it is collected, as well as the right to request that such information be deleted.
  
  
• Video Surveillance – Employers who use video surveillance in the workplace must comply with California’s privacy laws, which limit when and how video surveillance can be used.

What Legal Options Are Available For Workers in Los Banos?

When it comes to legal options for workers in Los Banos, it’s always best to consult with our team of experienced California employment lawyers. We can help explain how California’s employment laws apply to your specific situation and the full range of your options.  Generally, if you believe your workplace rights have been violated, you have the following options:

• File a complaint with an administrative agency – You or other workers have the legal right to file a complaint with state or federal agencies such as the California Department of Fair Labor and Housing (FEHA), Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), or the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) if you believe your employer has violated state or federal employment laws.
  
  
• File a civil lawsuit – After the administrative complaints are filed, you have the right to file a lawsuit against your employer for violations of state or federal employment laws. This can include claims for wage and hour violations, discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation. A lawsuit allows you to recover damages from your employer that include:
  • Lost wages and back pay
  • Liquidated damages
  • Emotional distress
  • Loss of dignity
  • Attorneys fees and costs

No matter what option you choose, our team can help guide you the entire way. We have the experience and resources necessary to make sure your rights are protected and you recover what you’re owed from your employer.

Experienced Representation From Los Banos Employment Lawyers

When you have your rights violated at work or are facing issues that threaten your livelihood, it can have an extremely negative impact on your life. At Maison Law, our team of experienced and dedicated California employment lawyers understands that employment issues can be stressful and overwhelming, which is why we take a compassionate and collaborative approach to every case we handle. We will work closely with you to understand your unique situation, assess your legal options, and develop a comprehensive strategy to achieve your goals.

Don’t let unlawful workplace issues affect your quality of life. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to get the help you need.