Melora Garrison is a freelance writer and California lawyer with 15 years of experience litigating cases in state and federal courts. As an attorney at an international law firm, she represented both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of complex commercial disputes involving employment, unfair competition, antitrust, consumer fraud, class action, and product liability claims. She also represented underserved clients in pro bono matters focusing on gender-based violence and immigration. Melora received her undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and her law degree from UCLA Law, where she was an editor for the UCLA Law Review.
Articles By Melora Garrison
California Law on Employer Use of Criminal Background Checks
If you are among the estimated one in three Californians with a criminal record, you might worry about how it will affect your job search. Surveys show that a majority of employers perform criminal background checks when hiring for at least some positions.
What Is AI Discrimination in Recruitment and Hiring?
Employers are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to screen job candidates and make hiring decisions.
Can You Get Unemployment Benefits If You Drive for Uber or Lyft?
The answer depends in part on whether you’re considered an employee or an independent contractor.
Can My Employer Monitor Me When I'm Working From Home?
With millions of American employees working remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic, employers are increasingly turning to monitoring software and other forms of surveillance to keep tabs on worker productivity.
How to Get Workers' Compensation for an Injury at Work in 2023
Understanding the workers’ comp system and your right to benefits after a work-related injury.
Working From Home in California: Does My Employer Have to Reimburse Me for Utilities or Other Expenses?
In the years since the Covid pandemic shut down workplaces across the country, working from home has become a way of life for more and more Americans. The share of people primarily working from home has tripled in recent years, from approximately 6% of the workforce in 2019 to 18% in 2021.
Can Employers Cover Their Employees' Abortion-Related Travel Expenses?
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, a growing number of large companies have said they will cover travel and other expenses for employees who must leave their home states to get abortions.
Parental Leave in California: What Happens If I Don't Return to Work?
Legal issues to consider if you’re thinking of quitting your job when your parental leave is up.
Can My Employer Prohibit Me From Discussing My Pay With My Coworkers?
It has long been illegal for employers to ban their employees from discussing pay. Yet these workplace “gag rules” continue to thrive.
Family and Medical Leave Laws in the District of Columbia
Employees in D.C. enjoy some of the most generous leave laws in the nation.