Madera Employment and Labor Lawyers

When you live and work in the city of Madera, you’re probably aware of the diversity of its economy. This provides significant employment opportunities in a variety of different industries and jobs. Because of its location in the Central Valley, Madera has a wealth of resources, making our city a wonderful place to live. At the same time, this economic diversity and different industries mean that people in Madera work in a variety of different workplaces, each with its own unique challenges and environments. Like any person that lives and works in California, people in Madera enjoy the protection of California’s numerous employment laws. These laws give every person in Madera specific rights in the workplace, and when their employer decides to violate them, it also provides a path to recovering from the damage.

Contact Maison Law’s Experienced Employment Lawyers Today

At Maison Law, our experienced Madera labor and employment lawyers can help you with any employment-related issues you are experiencing. Whether your employer is discriminating against you or isn’t paying you correctly, we’re here to help you understand your rights and options. Contact us today to schedule a free, initial consultation to learn more.

Living and Working in Madera

Madera’s location in the middle of the San Joaquin Valley of California, along with its climate and lower-than-average cost of living is one of the main drivers of Madera’s steady population numbers. As of the 2022 census, there are nearly 68,000 people living in Madera. Agriculture is one of the leading industries in Madera, thanks in large part to its climate and location, which make the growing and transporting of crops like almonds and fruits much easier. This also provides opportunities for leading manufacturing and distribution companies in the area. Outside of agriculture, some of the largest employers in Madera include:

• Madera Community Hospital
• Madera County
• Madera Unified School District
• Walmart
• Ardagh Group
• Lyons Magnus
• Leprino Foods
• Valley Children’s Healthcare
• JBT Corporation
• Teichert & Son, Inc.

Another contributing factor to Madera’s employment numbers is that it has taken steps to foster a small business-friendly environment, with resources and support available for entrepreneurs and small business owners. However, it may be more difficult to find employment opportunities in Madera compared to larger cities in the state. More to the point, being employed in Madera could mean that you or another worker is put in a situation where your workplace rights are violated. When that happens, it’s important to understand how these laws apply to your situation.

Employment Law in Madera

Madera, like all other cities in California, offers certain protections and rights to its workers. These laws are in place to prevent employers from violating the rights of their employees and cover a wide variety of different types of treatment and actions, including:

• Violations of wage and hour law
• Wrongful termination
• Harassment
• Discrimination
• Retaliation
• Violations of privacy

Violations of Wage and Hour Laws

One of the most important areas of employment law in Madera–and California–applies to how your employer pays you and documents your hours. The California Labor Code requires every employer to follow certain responsibilities and requirements for how they pay you and the timeframe in which they have to pay you. Specifically, these California’s wage and hour laws summarize the protections you and other employees have:

• You are provided a minimum wage
• You are provided overtime pay
• You are to be paid your final wages in a timely manner
• You are to be provided with meal and rest breaks
• You are provided with Workers’ Compensation Insurance
• Your employer is required to classify you correctly

The core relationship between you and your employer is that you provide labor and services to them and they provide you with income and other benefits. When your employer violates any of these laws, you have the right to pursue legal action to recover what you’re owed.

Harassment and Discrimination

California has specific laws in place that prohibit your employer from engaging in harassment and discrimination against you or other employees. If you belong to a “protected class” of individual, you have the right to work in an environment that is free of harassment and discrimination. These protected characteristics include:

• 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

The other provision of the FEHA protects you from retaliation. In the context of the workplace, retaliation is any action that your employer takes that punishes you for reporting harassment and discrimination. This usually includes:

• Termination or demotion
• Reduction in hours or pay
• Denial of a promotion or transfer
• Increased scrutiny or monitoring of job performance
• Reassignment to a less desirable position or shift
• Denial of training or educational opportunities
• Intimidation or threats
• Verbal or physical abuse
• Isolation or exclusion from meetings or work-related activities
• Unjustified negative performance evaluations or disciplinary actions
• Spreading rumors or making false accusations
• Excessive or unfair criticism
• Sabotage of work or projects
• Withholding of work-related resources or equipment
• Excessive workload or unreasonable deadlines

Legally speaking, when you experience harassment and discrimination and are ultimately terminated, it is known as “wrongful termination.” The law allows for you or any other employee that has been wrongfully terminated to pursue action against your employer to hold them accountable.

Whistleblower Laws

One of the most important laws that protect Madera workers, especially in agriculture or other more labor-intensive industries, is the Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). The WPA provides you and other workers who report illegal, fraudulent, or unethical activities by their employers or colleagues protection from harassment or retaliation. The law is designed to encourage employees to report wrongdoing by protecting them from retaliation, harassment, or discrimination for speaking out. Under the California Whistleblower Protection Act, employees are protected if they:

• Report or refuse to participate in illegal activity
• Disclose information to a government agency
• Report a violation of state or federal law.
• Report unsafe working conditions or work practices relating to the employee’s job duties or place of employment.

Obviously, being a whistleblower makes you vulnerable in the workplace. In these scenarios, you not only have to deal with dangerous or unsafe working conditions, but it’s very likely that your employer will try to punish you for speaking out. Fortunately, the WPA protects you from this treatment, and we can help hold your employer accountable if they engage in this type of conduct.

Violations of Privacy

California has several examples of ways that your employer cannot violate your privacy in the workplace. These usually revolve around how they gather and use your personal information, but employers can violate your privacy in various ways in the workplace. Here are some examples:

• Unnecessarily recording or videotaping you in the workplace.
• Monitoring and tracking your internet usage.
• Making employment decisions based on your criminal record.
• Collecting your medical records and history.
• Testing you for drugs and alcohol.
• Protecting your Social Security Number

If you believe that your employer has violated your privacy rights in the workplace, you may want to seek legal advice from one of our experienced employment lawyers to determine your options for recourse.

How Can Our Employment Lawyers Help You in Madera?

Oftentimes, when your employer violates your workplace rights, it occurs in ways that are subtle. However, when any of the above actions or conduct is taken against you in the workplace, the law allows you to pursue legal action against your employer. When you find yourself in these situations, our team of experienced and knowledgeable California employment lawyers can help you. We have the resources and experience necessary to help you navigate the best course of action available to you. We have helped numeroisu clients hold their employers accountable by providing the following:

• Explanation of legal rights
• Providing legal advice and counsel
• Reviewing employment contracts and agreements
• Representing you in legal disputes
• Negotiating on your behalf
• Advocating for your rights

Not only are there numerous ways our team can help you, but there are also several options you have to actually hold your employer accountable. This typically happens by filing a claim, either with one of California’s government agencies responsible for enforcing these laws or by filing a lawsuit in civil court. No matter what option you choose, you potentially recover compensation and other benefits from your employer that includes:

• Lost wages
• Back pay
• Liquidated damages
• Front pay or reinstatement
• Emotional distress
• Loss of dignity
• Attorneys fees and costs

It’s important to understand that these damages, while available, are general. Thus, what you can ultimately recover will depend on the specific circumstances of your case. Also important is your claim’s statute of limitations, or deadline in which you can actually file your claim. In California, the statute of limitations varies depending on the type of claim you have:

• Wrongful termination claims have two years from the date of termination
• Wage and hour claims have three years to file a claim from the date of unpaid wages

Madera Employment Lawyers Are Here For You

When you have your rights violated at work, it can have serious financial and emotional consequences on not just you, but other coworkers. At its most basic level, every worker in Madera deserves to be treated with respect and dignity in the workplace. Unfortunately, not every employer takes this responsibility seriously. When you are discriminated against, harassed, retaliated against, or not paid properly, you may feel totally alone. Our team of experienced California employment lawyers is here for you in your time of need. We have the experience and dedication that you need to hold your employer accountable and we can help you do so. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today for a free consultation.