FREE CONSULT
ALL FIELDS REQUIRED*
FREE CONSULT
NO RECOVERY NO FEE
Losing a job, being treated unfairly at work, or facing retaliation can damage your career and many other aspects of your life. If you are dealing with harassment, wrongful termination, or wage violations in Orange County, you do not have to face your employer alone. At Nosratilaw, A Professional Law Corporation, an Orange County employment lawyer can fiercely advocate for your employee rights. Our firm focuses exclusively on employment law and knows how overwhelming these situations can feel.
Our team can protect your rights, explain your options, and pursue the compensation you deserve. Whether your goal is to recover lost wages, hold your employer accountable, or simply find clarity about what happened, we can guide and represent you throughout the process.
With years of experience in complex employment law claims across California, Nosratilaw, A Professional Law Corporation, has built a strong reputation for protecting workers’ rights. Our attorneys have successfully represented clients in cases involving wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, and wage disputes.
We stay current on California labor laws and court decisions to provide informed, effective strategies. Our proven success record and commitment to client advocacy provide both knowledgeable representation and compassionate guidance.
California is an at-will employment state, which means your employer can usually fire you at any time for any reason. If the reason for the termination violates state or federal law, then it may be wrongful. For example, you might have a claim if you were fired due to discrimination, for reporting unsafe working conditions, or for taking certain protected family or medical leave. Terminations in violation of an employment contract are also wrongful.
If you are wrongfully terminated from your job, it can be a devastating blow to your financial security and ability to find another job. It can be crucial to document the circumstances of the termination in detail, along with saving copies of your performance reviews, any relevant emails, and witness statements. Learning your rights can protect your livelihood.
Workplace discrimination occurs when an employer treats an employee unfairly or unjustly. This can be for a variety of reasons, such as the employee’s race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or age. Discrimination can take many forms, including biased hiring practices, unequal pay, denied promotions, or different treatment in disciplinary actions.
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act and federal laws, such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, prohibit such actions. Employers and supervisors have been known to violate both state and federal employment laws. In some cases, discrimination may impact an individual’s income. In others, it may only affect their morale and career trajectory. Common indicators of discrimination include consistently being passed over for opportunities or being held to different standards than their colleagues.
Workplace harassment can take many forms beyond an occasional disagreement. It is characterized by unwelcome behavior that creates a hostile or intimidating work environment. Some of the most common types of harassment include sexual harassment, racial slurs, bullying, and retaliation.
In Orange County, employees face harassment in various industries, ranging from healthcare and education to hospitality and technology. California employment laws provide legal protections for employees against harassment from coworkers and supervisors. Harassment can have negative effects on mental health, productivity, and job satisfaction.
Talented employees may be driven away from their jobs due to ongoing harassment. Detailed records of incidents, including dates, witnesses, and communication records, can support a harassment claim and achieve a meaningful resolution.
Wage and hour violations occur when an employer fails to follow California or federal pay-and-hours rules. For most non-exempt employees in California, overtime is 1.5× after 8 hours in a workday or 40 hours in a workweek, and 2× after 12 hours in a day. Alternative workweek schedules, CBAs, and exemptions can change how these rules apply.
It’s very common for employers to violate these laws. A recent survey found that 41% of hourly workers in California were affected by a serious labor law violation (such as unpaid wages) in 2023. Orange County employees usually file a wage claim with the Santa Ana Labor Commissioner’s Office at 605 West Santa Ana Blvd, Building 28, Room 625.
Retaliation happens when an employer takes an adverse action against an employee because the employee has exercised or attempted to exercise their legal rights. This could involve filing a complaint against harassment, discrimination, or health and safety concerns. Retaliation can include demotion, reduced hours, harassment, or termination. California has laws protecting workers who blow the whistle or report unlawful practices (e.g., FEHA, Labor Code).
Retaliation can often be proven if you can demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship between your protected activity and the adverse action. It is important to keep documentation, such as emails and a timeline of events, as well as statements from witnesses to support your claims. In Orange County public employment cases, appeals or claims may be heard by agencies like PERB (Public Employment Relations Board), which handles local public agency employees in Orange County.
Federal and California laws require employers to provide time off from work for eligible employees who have a serious need for family or medical leave. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) enables qualifying employees to take unpaid leave for up to 12 weeks annually for serious health issues, for childbirth, or to help a close relative with a serious medical condition, among other reasons.
The California Family Rights Act (CFRA) has similar provisions and gives broader family leave rights, in some respects, by covering additional family members (including domestic partners). Neither law allows an employer to interfere with an employee’s rights or retaliate against an employee for exercising those rights. Leave requirements may be violated when employers:
Employment contracts and severance agreements often have language that can have a dramatic impact on a worker’s rights. A severance package can include a severance payment, continued benefits, and even a confidentiality agreement. However, an employee should know if signing a severance agreement waives their right to bring a legal claim. California law generally makes non-compete clauses unenforceable; however, they are included in some employment contracts.
Other contracts may waive any dispute resolution except for arbitration and contain restrictive covenants. It is important to read and understand all the language in an employment contract, and not sign something that may impact your future employment and legal rights. Contracts can often be negotiated or, at least, fully understood by the worker to avoid future disputes. An employment attorney can make sure the agreement is a fair balance between the employer and employee.
Employees can report hazardous working conditions without retaliation or threat of retaliation. California Labor Code §6310 explicitly prohibits retaliation against employees who exercise their right to make complaints about unsafe working conditions to their employer or an agency like Cal/OSHA.
Retaliation can take many forms, such as demotion or reassignment with reduced hours. It could also be an employer firing an employee in response to a complaint. This action serves to punish a worker for asserting their rights while simultaneously deterring other employees from reporting workplace safety issues.
Keeping a record of complaints, unsafe conditions, and actions by the employer after a complaint can prove retaliation. Whistleblower protection is an important right, as it allows workers to raise safety issues without fear of losing their jobs.
Employees should feel free to exercise their right to a safe work environment without having to choose between safety and employment. These rights are especially important in high-risk industries, like construction, manufacturing, or healthcare.
The most prevalent wage issue facing California employees is misclassification. A common form of wage theft occurs when employers misclassify workers as independent contractors. This practice allows businesses to avoid paying overtime, providing benefits, or payroll taxes. California has codified a stringent “ABC test” with Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) that makes it more difficult for businesses to misclassify employees.
To be a contractor, the worker must be free of the employer’s control, perform work outside the company’s primary business, and be independent in their work. Misclassification also denies employees access to fundamental rights, such as workers’ compensation, minimum wage, and unemployment benefits.
If you or someone you know is interested in employee rights and wage theft, it’s useful to understand the criteria that legally separate employees from contractors. Most misclassified workers are not aware of their status until they are denied coverage after an injury or termination.
A class action employment case is a civil claim filed by or on behalf of a group of workers who have experienced similar violations in the workplace, such as unpaid wages, denied breaks, or systemic discrimination.
Instead of each employee filing a separate claim, the allegations are grouped into one action, streamlining the process and reducing costs. Class actions can remedy widespread illegal practices and may result in compensation, policy changes, and enhanced protections for employees.
Wrongful termination is the act of firing an employee for an illegal reason, even in California, as an at-will state. It is illegal to fire someone for:
Terminating an employee in violation of an employment contract is also against the law. Employers can end an employee’s term of employment with no cause or reason, but they can’t do so for an unlawful reason.
A hostile workplace environment created by frequent or severe harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, or sexual orientation constitutes illegal harassment. Isolated incidents, petty slights, and offhand comments may not be harassment, but pervasive offensive conduct or unwanted sexual advances usually are.
Harassment from supervisors, coworkers, and non-employees is prohibited under California law. A detailed log of incidents and witnesses can indicate whether behavior meets the legal threshold for harassment.
Employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of job-protected, unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and California Family Rights Act (CFRA). This allows employees to care for a serious health condition, bond with a new child, or care for certain family members. Employers are required to restore employees to the same or equivalent job. Denying legitimate requests or retaliating against workers for taking leave may be the basis for a claim.
California law mandates employers to pay overtime wages to employees who work more than eight hours daily or 40 hours weekly. If your employer refuses to pay, you can file a wage claim with the California Labor Commissioner or hire an Orange County employment attorney to seek other legal remedies. Retain copies of timesheets, pay stubs, and schedules, which can establish your claim. File a wage claim as soon as possible because there are strict time limits under California law.
Losing your job or being treated unfairly at work can be overwhelming. Beyond the financial strain, your reputation and future opportunities may also feel at risk. If you’ve been wrongfully terminated, discriminated against, harassed, or denied the pay you’ve earned, it’s hard to know how to respond.
California and federal laws give employees strong protections, and you don’t have to face this alone. Every worker in Orange County deserves respect and a safe workplace. Nosratilaw, A Professional Law Corporation, can advocate for you, safeguard your rights, and hold employers accountable. If you’ve been mistreated, schedule a consultation with an Orange County employment lawyer today.
Applicants who do not follow all instructions or submit all required information will not be considered and will not be notified of such.
Essay Topic: As you look ahead to finishing school and entering your chosen profession, what is it that will set you apart from others in the same field? Other questions to consider as you write: What will you do to bring unique value to your work? What will you do to prevent being just mediocre in your vocation?
Essays will be judged on many factors including grammar and punctuation, structure, creativity, and substance.
The Nosrati Law Scholarship can only be used for school tuition and related expenses. A check for $1,000 will be made payable directly to the award recipient’s educational institution.
Students who have already been a recipient of our scholarship, may not apply again.