What Are My Rights as an Employee in Glendale?

Posted on March 3, 2025 | By Omid Nosrati | Employment Law

If you’re an employee working in Glendale, California, you have rights and legal protections as a worker. When compared to other employees in other states, California offers fairly robust employee protections. While employment laws are complicated, you may wonder, what are my rights as an employee in Glendale?

California “At-Will” Employment

In California, you have a right to work and not be terminated for unlawful reasons, even if you’re considered an “at-will” employee. While your employer can dismiss at-will employees at any time and for almost any reason, they can’t fire their employees for an illegal reason. It’s unlawful to terminate an at-will employee for any of the following reasons:

• Discrimination. You cannot be fired because of your race, color, ancestry, national origin, creed, religion, age if over 40 years old, marital status, physical or mental disability, gender, sex, or gender identity or expression, status in the military or as a veteran, medical condition, or your genetic predisposition or genetic profile.The anti-discrimination laws in California apply across all areas of employment, and employers can’t discriminate because of a characteristic that is protected.
• Legal use of benefits. Employees are entitled to request and take leave under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). While not every employee is eligible for job-protected FMLA leave, it’s illegal for an employer to fire an employee for requesting or taking leave if they’re eligible for it.
• Retaliation. Every employee deserves a safe workplace, and the law prohibits retaliation against workers who report safety risks, harassment, overtime or pay violations, and other employment issues. Employers also cannot fire employees who ask for reasonable accommodations at work due to a protected characteristic.

If you believe your rights as a California employee were violated, consider consulting an experienced employment attorney to discuss your legal options.

General Employee Rights in California

As an employee working in Glendale, California, you have the following employee rights:

• Minimum wage. You have a right to receive the minimum wage in California.
• Overtime pay for the hours you work beyond 40 in a week. If you worked more than the standard employee work hours, you’re typically entitled to overtime pay.
• Required meal and rest breaks. Generally, employees have a right to a scheduled meal break, which is usually 30 minutes if they work over five hours in their workday, plus additional rest breaks.
• A safe, hazard-free workplace. Workers in California are entitled to work in an environment that’s safe and free from hazardous conditions. You also have the right to report any unsafe conditions you observe without workplace retaliation.
• Protection from discrimination and workplace harassment. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) prohibits harassment or discrimination against employees on the basis of a protected characteristic. It also prohibits any retaliatory actions against employees who assert their rights. The California Equal Pay Act prohibits California employers from paying their employees less than employees who are of a different ethnicity, race, or sex for work that’s substantially similar.
• Workers’ compensation claim benefits. Every California employer is required to maintain workers’ compensation insurance to provide benefits for their employees’ work-related illnesses and injuries. All employers must cover any associated costs of the insurance coverage and provide claim benefits through workers’ comp for medical care, temporary or permanent disability, retraining, and death benefits.
• Job-protected unpaid FMLA leave and paid sick leave. California employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave when they qualify for FMLA leave.
• A workplace free from retaliation, especially if you file a complaint against your workplace. As a California employee, you can report any employer’s violations of laws or even company policies without fearing workplace retaliation.

Employees in California typically have substantially more employee protections in place than workers across the U.S.

FAQs

Where Can I Get More Information About My Employee Rights Under the FMLA?

California workers have basic protected rights to take unpaid leave if they qualify under the FMLA. You can find more information about your rights as an employee under the FMLA through the Department of Labor’s Employee Guide to the Family and Medical Leave Act. You can also consult with an employment lawyer to learn more, and if you have specific concerns.

Is My Employer Supposed to Display Information About Wage and Hour Laws in My Workplace?

The U.S. Department of Labor requires many California employers to display posters from the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division, including the Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage poster, the FMLA poster, and the Employee Polygraph Protection Act posters. However, not all employers are required to post specific notices.

Where Can I Find Reliable Information Online About California Wages and Hour Rights?

If you are a California employee, you can find reliable online information about your rights concerning wage and hour laws on the Department of Labor’s website. They address the Fair Labor Standards Act, child labor laws, the FMLA, and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA). The Department of Labor also provides helpful information in English and Spanish.

Do I Have to Tell My Employer I’m Asserting My Employee Rights Under the FMLA?

You do not have to tell your employer you’re asserting your rights under the FMLA as a California employee if you request leave under the FMLA for a qualifying reason for the first time. If you’ve previously used job-protected FMLA leave and intend to request leave again, you need to specifically reference the need for leave or the FMLA-qualifying reason.

Contact California Attorneys at Nosratilaw, A Professional Law Corporation to Discuss Your Employee Rights

If you need help asserting your employee rights as an employee working in California, contact the experienced team at Nosratilaw, A Professional Law Corporation for help.

We can discuss any questions you have about your employee rights and explain your legal options to address the workplace violations you may have faced. Our office is just off the I-405 and I-10, and there’s plenty of convenient parking. Contact our office to schedule a consultation with our team and discuss your employee rights risk-free with an attorney.