Los Angeles attorney Ronald D. Wilton, of Wilton Law & Mediation, lists the top four tips regarding California employment law.
The importance of legal education for employees is paramount, so that large and small businesses reduce their risk of legal problems. To educate employees, attorney Ronald D. Wilton, founder of Wilton Law & Mediation, lists the following four tips about employment law in California.
No. 1: Not every wrongful termination is actionable and not every fired employee has a legal claim. California is an at-will state, meaning an employee can quit without notice or reason and an employer can terminate a worker without any reason or notice. “However, there are restrictions to this, such as instances involving discrimination or retaliation against an employee engaging in certain protected activities,” noted Wilton, who has an “Excellent” Avvo rating. “If you are terminated, get a legal analysis to find out if you have a case.”
No. 2: Sick leave and vacation pay do not expire. “There is no such thing as ‘use it or lose it,’” stressed Wilton, who primarily represents clients in cases involving employment issues. “Employers can encourage employees to use vested vacation time, but cannot take it away if not used by a certain date. Employers are not obligated to provide vacation pay, but once they do, the time belongs to the employee. Read the written policies, contact HR for clarification, and reach out to a legal professional if all else fails.”
No. 3: Employees have no right to privacy on company-provided equipment. Employers have the right to know how their equipment is being used and have the right to access any information on their equipment. “Do not use company computers or company-provided cell phones or tablets for any personal matters you would not want your boss to see,” cautioned Wilton.
No. 4: Right to equal pay. California has some of the strongest protections in the U.S. guaranteeing that employees receive equal pay for similar work. “They are designed to narrow the gender pay gap and end discriminatory pay practices, especially against women and racial and ethnic minorities,” concluded Wilton.
About Ronald D. Wilton, Wilton Law & Mediation
Ronald D. Wilton is the principal attorney at Wilton Law & Mediation, and has been in practice for 35 years. Wilton Law & Mediation focuses on employment law, business litigation, personal injury and mediation. For more information, please call (818) 906-3500, or visit www.wilton4law.com. The law office is located at 16055 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 811, Encino, CA 91436.
About the NALA™
The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALA’s mission is to promote a business’ relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361.