California Manufacturing Industry Employment Lawyer

Of the many industries that make up California’s economy, one of the most successful–both in terms of revenue and employment–is its manufacturing industry. 2022 Data from the National Association of Manufacturers found that 7.5% of the total employment in California work in the manufacturing industry, equaling 1.275 million jobs. This data also found that the manufacturing industry accounted for nearly $395 billion in total output. While working in this industry is rewarding, it can also be challenging. Workers in California’s manufacturing industry encounter physically demanding work over long hours, while also adhering to strict safety standards and complying with regulations. Like any other work in California, all of these demands can eventually lead to employment law issues.

Experienced and Dedicated California Employment Lawyers Can Help Manufacturing Industry Workers

Going to work every day in California’s manufacturing industry requires commitment. You likely work long, hard hours doing physically demanding labor. You would hope that your employer would recognize that commitment and take measures to keep you and your coworkers safe and treat you fairly. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. When your workplace rights have been violated, don’t wait to get the legal help you need. At Maison Law, our team of experienced California employment lawyers is proud to provide full legal support for workers in California’s manufacturing industry. We can help you understand your rights under the law and how you can hold your employer accountable for their actions. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Working in California’s Manufacturing Industry

Working in California’s manufacturing industry can be a challenging and rewarding experience. The industry is diverse and encompasses a wide range of job roles, from entry-level positions to management and executive roles. Not only that, California’s status as a leader in other industries like technology and healthcare provides even more opportunities for sub-sectors of manufacturing jobs. All of these factors equate to the industry’s success, but one of the biggest benefits is job creation. Some of the most common jobs in this industry include:

• Assemblers and Fabricators
• Machinists
• Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
• Industrial Machinery Mechanics
• Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Mechanical Engineers
• Materials Engineers
• Quality Control Inspectors
• Production Managers
• Operations Managers
• Logistics and Supply Chain Managers
• Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing
• Human Resources Managers
• Accounting and Finance Professionals
• Information Technology Professionals

For all its success, the manufacturing industry in California can also be extremely challenging for workers. There are a variety of reasons for this as well, but some of the most common are:

• Regulatory compliance – California has some of the strictest environmental and labor regulations in the country. While these regulations help to protect workers and the environment, they can also create additional costs and administrative burdens for manufacturers.
• Global competition – California’s manufacturing industry faces intense competition from manufacturers in other states and countries. This competition can drive down prices and profit margins, making it difficult for some manufacturers to remain competitive.
• Infrastructure challenges – California’s transportation infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and ports, is aging and in need of repair. This can cause delays in the transportation of goods and increase costs for manufacturers.
• Technology advancements – The manufacturing industry is undergoing rapid technological advancements, including automation and artificial intelligence. Manufacturers need to invest in new technologies and skills to remain competitive and meet changing consumer demands.
• Supply chain disruptions – The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are still being felt by the manufacturing industry, especially with disruptions in the global supply chain. Manufacturers in California may face disruptions in their supply chains due to factors such as transportation disruptions, raw material shortages, and labor shortages.

While these challenges are present throughout the manufacturing industry in California, there can sometimes be more targeted challenges for workers. The most serious of these is when your employer violates California’s employment laws.

California Manufacturing Industry and Employment Law

Because it can involve dangerous conditions and taxing physical labor, the manufacturing industry has a number of regulations in place involving workplace safety. Not only that, but it is also subject to all other California employment laws, which provide workers with some of the strongest protections in the country. Here is a closer look at some of the more common employment law issues that come up in California’s manufacturing industry:

• Workplace safety – Employers in the manufacturing industry are required to provide a safe working environment for their employees. This includes complying with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, providing personal protective equipment, and implementing safety training programs.
• Worker classification – Manufacturers in California must ensure that their workers are classified correctly as either employees or independent contractors. Misclassifying workers can lead to significant legal and financial consequences.
• Leave laws – California has a variety of leave laws, including the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), which provide eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain medical or family-related reasons.
• Wage and Hour laws – Another issue that commonly arises in the manufacturing industry is violations of workers’ wages and hours worked. To address these issues, California has some of the strongest wage and hour protections in the country. These laws govern issues such as minimum wage, overtime pay, meal and rest breaks, and timekeeping.
• Worker’s Compensation – Because manufacturing industry jobs can sometimes be dangerous to the health of workers, injuries, and illnesses happen. To that end, California law requires employers to provide workers’ compensation insurance to employees. This insurance provides benefits to employees that are injured or become ill on the job.
• Discrimination and harassment – California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) outlaws discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The law is based on certain protected characteristics that employees have, like age, race, color, national origin, disability, or religion. When employers or other workers discriminate or harass employees based on these characteristics, they can face legal consequences.
• Whistleblower protections – California law has extensive protections for manufacturing industry workers that “blow the whistle” on illegal or unethical activity in the workplace. One of the main state laws that protect whistleblowers in California is the California Whistleblower Protection Act (WPA). The WPA prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report violations of state or federal law, or who refuse to participate in activities that violate the law. The WPA applies to all public employees, including those in the manufacturing industry who work for state or local government agencies.

Enforcement of Employment Laws in California’s Manufacturing Industry

A crucial part of the legal protections given to workers in the manufacturing industry by California’s employment laws is enforcement. In California, there are several state agencies that enforce their particular area of the law:

• Labor Commissioner’s Office Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE) – The primary agency responsible for enforcing employment laws is the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), also known as the Labor Commissioner’s Office. The DLSE is tasked with investigating complaints of wage and hour violations, including unpaid overtime, minimum wage violations, and meal and rest break violations.
• Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) – The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) also plays a role in enforcing employment laws in the manufacturing industry. The DIR oversees several agencies, including the Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA), which enforces workplace safety and health standards. Cal/OSHA investigates complaints of workplace hazards, issues citations for violations of safety regulations, and can shut down operations that pose an imminent danger to employees.
• Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) – The DFEH is the state agency responsible for enforcing the FEHA as it relates to employment. As such, they investigate complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on protected characteristics such as race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, or pregnancy. If the DFEH finds evidence of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, it may file a lawsuit on behalf of the victim or pursue other remedies to ensure that the victim is fairly compensated and that the discrimination is stopped.

Lawsuits

California law also provides workers with the ability to file a lawsuit against their employer for violations of their workplace rights. Our team of experienced California employment lawyers can help you navigate this process, which involves filing a Complaint in civil court against your employer to recover damages. Damages include things like:

• Lost wages
• Loss of benefits
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering

The legal process can vary depending on the specific details of your case, so it’s always your best option to consult with our team prior to taking this step. At the same time, we have a proven track record of success in helping employees hold their employers accountable for their legal actions.

Contact Maison Law Today For a Free Consultation

The first step to protecting your legal rights is to contact our team of experienced California employment lawyers here at Maison Law. If you believe your employer is taking unlawful actions against you or if you’d simply like to learn more about your options as a worker in the manufacturing industry, we can help. We have a complete understanding of the state’s employment laws and can help you understand how they apply to your specific situation. Don’t wait to get the help you need, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.