News

“HR Stopped Responding, and Then I Was Let Go” We regularly hear from employees who describe the same pattern: “I gave them my doctor’s note, they said they would ‘review options’…and then everything went quiet. Months later, I got a termination letter.” Under California law, this isn’t just bad communication. It may be a violation […]

“I Didn’t Want to Quit — I Felt Like I Had No Choice” Many people who call our office start with the same sentence: “I didn’t want to quit. I felt like I had no choice.” They may have walked out, submitted a resignation, or agreed to a “mutual separation.” But when they describe what […]

The Problem: “Your Light Duty Is Over, So We Have to Let You Go” Many workers in California hear some version of this line: “Your light duty period is over, and we can’t keep accommodating you. If you can’t come back full duty by Monday, we’ll have to terminate you.” On the surface, it might […]

Why Layoffs Aren’t Always Just “Business Decisions” In California, a layoff is often described as “nothing personal”—just a business decision. But for many employees, that explanation doesn’t match what actually happened. You may suspect that your layoff wasn’t random at all. Maybe you: When a layoff comes shortly after these events—or conveniently targets certain age […]

Retaliation in California: Why It Matters Retaliation laws exist to solve a simple problem: If employees could be freely punished for speaking up, workplace protections would be meaningless. California law recognizes that employees are often the only ones who see wage theft, discrimination, harassment, or safety violations from the inside. When you raise concerns in […]

“We’re Restructuring — Unfortunately, Your Position Is Affected” Few phone calls are more shocking than this one: “As you know, we’ve been restructuring. Unfortunately, your position has been eliminated. Today will be your last day.” For many employees, those words come while they’re still on medical leave — recovering from surgery, managing a serious health […]

“It’s My Word Against Theirs… Right?” After a termination, many employees come to us with a familiar concern: “It’s just my word against the company’s. How can I prove what really happened?” The truth is, most cases don’t come down to “he said, she said.” The strongest wrongful termination and discrimination cases are built on […]

“Your Case Is Closed — And So Is Your Job” Many injured workers in California hear some version of the same story. After months of treatment and workers’ compensation appointments, the doctor declares them “permanent and stationary” (P&S), also known as reaching “maximum medical improvement” (MMI). Shortly afterward, the employer announces: “We’ve reviewed your restrictions […]

“We Need Someone Who Can Do the Job” — A Common Post-Leave Justification Employees who return from medical leave often hear a version of the same line: “We need somebody who can do all the essential functions of this position. Since you can’t, we have to let you go.” On the surface, that sounds reasonable. […]

Two Laws, One Purpose: Protecting Employees Who Need Time Away When illness, injury, or family emergencies happen, most employees worry about one thing: Will I lose my job if I take time off? California has two overlapping laws that protect workers in these situations: the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the California Family Rights Act […]