What Are My Rights as a Los Angeles Employee?

As a Los Angeles employee, you have powerful rights designed to protect your pay, dignity, and livelihood. When workplace practices feel unfair, inconsistent, or punitive, it is often worth taking a closer look. 

If you have received unfair treatment at your workplace, contact our Los Angeles employment law attorneys at Aegis Law Firm to seek compensation. Schedule your free consultation today.

Your Right to Be Paid for All Hours Worked

Los Angeles employees have the right to receive full and timely payment for every hour worked. This includes minimum wage, overtime, and double time when applicable. Employers cannot require off-the-clock work, alter time records, or fail to pay for tasks performed before or after a shift. 

Employees are also entitled to accurate wage statements that clearly show hours worked, pay rates, and deductions. Missing or inaccurate pay stubs can be a violation on their own.

Your Right to Overtime and Breaks

Most non-exempt employees are entitled to overtime pay when they work more than eight hours in a day or forty hours in a week. In certain situations, extended shifts may also trigger double time pay.

Employees are also entitled to meal and rest breaks. Employers must provide uninterrupted meal periods and paid rest breaks based on the length of the shift. When breaks are missed, late, or interrupted, employees may be entitled to additional pay.

Your Right to a Discrimination-Free Workplace

You have the right to be treated fairly at work regardless of race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. Discrimination can show up in hiring decisions, promotions, pay, scheduling, discipline, or termination.

Discrimination is not always obvious. Unequal treatment, biased evaluations, or being held to different standards than coworkers may violate the law when tied to a protected trait.

Your Right to Be Free From Harassment

Harassment becomes unlawful when it is severe or pervasive enough to create a hostile work environment. Harassment can be verbal, physical, or visual and does not need to be sexual in nature.

Employers have a duty to address harassment once they know or should know it is happening. Ignoring complaints or minimizing behavior can create legal liability.

Your Right to Take Protected Leave

Los Angeles employees may have the right to take protected time off for medical reasons, pregnancy, family care, or bonding with a new child. This includes paid sick leave and other job-protected leave options depending on eligibility. Employers may not interfere with protected leave or punish employees for using it.

Your Right to Speak Up Without Retaliation

Employees have the right to report workplace problems, ask questions about pay, request accommodations, or participate in investigations. Retaliation for speaking up is unlawful.

Retaliation can include wrongful termination, reduced hours, schedule changes, negative performance reviews, or increased scrutiny after raising concerns. Even subtle changes can violate the law if they are meant to discourage employees from asserting their rights.

Your Right to Proper Classification

Employers must properly classify workers. Misclassifying employees as independent contractors or exempt employees can result in lost wages, denied overtime, and missing benefits. Your job title or contract does not control classification. The law looks at how the job actually functions day to day.

Your Right to a Safe Workplace

Employees have the right to work in an environment free from serious safety hazards. You may report unsafe conditions without fear of retaliation.