Employee Rights

Drug Tests for Job Applicants: If You're Asked to Take a Drug Test

Know your rights as an applicant if a potential employer requires a drug test.

Employment At Will: What Does It Mean?

If you are employed at will, your employer does not need good cause to fire you.

Can a Prospective Employer Ask for My Current or Past Salary?

In some states, employees can’t be required to provide their salary information.

Can You Sue a Company for Not Hiring You?

Learn when you might have a legal claim arising from an employer's decision not to hire you.

How to Report Sexual Harassment

Learn how to protect yourself from sexual harassment at the workplace.

Age Discrimination at Work: What Are Your Rights?

The ADEA and other state and federal laws prohibit age discrimination at the workplace.

Sexual Orientation Discrimination: Your Rights

A recent Supreme Court decision prohibits sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace.

Discrimination Based on Gender Identity

Learn about your rights against transgender discrimination in the workplace.

Your Right to a Reasonable Accommodation Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA gives employees with disabilities the right to reasonable accommodations that will allow them to do their jobs.

Taking Family and Medical Leave

Learn about the FMLA, state laws, eligibility, regulations, and employer policies governing family and medical leave.

Family and Medical Leave in California

Like employers in every state, California employers must comply with the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows eligible employees to take unpaid leave, with the right to reinsta

Domestic Violence Leave: Taking Time Off Work

Victims of domestic violence may have the right to take time off work.

FMLA Violations by Employers: Do You Have a Claim?

Learn some common ways employers violate the FMLA.

Employee Wage and Hour Rights FAQ

Frequently asked questions about employee compensation and hour laws.

Who is Covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act?

Learn who is protected by the FLSA -- and who is not.

Do You Have an Overtime Case?

Since the Great Depression in the 1930s, most employers in the United States have been legally required to pay overtime to eligible employees who work more than 40 hours in a week. The original purpose of this rule was to spread the work around and get as many people as possible off the unemployment rolls.

Wrongful Termination: Was Your Firing Illegal?

If you've been fired from your job, do you have grounds to challenge the termination?

Wrongful Termination: Gathering Documentation

If you lose your job, protect your legal rights with documentation.

Chart: Final Paycheck Laws by State

Learn your state's law on when you have to provide a departing employee with the final paycheck.

What Benefits Can You Claim After a Job Loss?

Learn about wage replacement programs that may be available if you are fired or laid off.

Off-Duty Conduct and Employee Rights

Can your employer keep track of what you do when you're not at work?

Proving Your Privacy Was Violated at Work

Find out whether you can sue your employer for invasion of privacy

Phone Calls, Voice Mail, and Secret Recordings: What Are Your Rights?

Learn the rules for monitoring phone calls and voice mail messages.

Email Monitoring: Can Your Employer Read Your Messages?

Employers have a lot of leeway to monitor employee emails.

Federal Labor Laws

Learn about the federal laws that regulate the relationship between management and unions.

Right to Work, Union Shops, and Union Dues

Can employees be required to join a union or pay dues?

What Are Unfair Labor Practices?

Certain actions by employers or unions are illegal under federal labor law.

Strikes

Employees have the right to strike, but not all strikes are legal.

Do Labor Laws Protect Employee Posts on Social Media?

Concerted activities to improve working conditions -- including online discussions among coworkers -- are legally protected.

FAQ on Workers' Compensation Claims and Benefits in California

Get answers to common questions about your rights, responsibilities, and benefits under the workers' comp system in California—including when you can receive temporary disability and other benefits for COVID-19.

Do I need workers’ compensation insurance for my nanny in California?

Californians need to buy workers' comp insurance for childcare employees who work in the household for more than a minimal amount of time.

Workers' Compensation: What Happens at a Mediation or Settlement Conference?

You're more likely to get a fair settlement offer if you're well-prepared for mediation.

Is My Employer Required to Provide Health Care Coverage?

With the high cost of medical care in the United States, it’s no surprise that health insurance is one of the most highly sought-after benefits by employees. Many employers use benefit packages—including health, vision, and dental coverage—to attract and retain employees.

Unemployment Benefits FAQ

Answers to common questions on collecting unemployment compensation.

Do You Qualify for Unemployment Benefits?

Unemployment benefits are meant to act as a temporary safety net for employees who are out of work through no fault of their own -- to tide them over until they can find a new job.

Unemployment Compensation: Understanding the Base Period

Workers are eligible for unemployment compensation only if they are temporarily out of work through no fault of their own. The "fault" part of the eligibility requirement has to do with the reasons why the employee no longer has a job.

Unemployment Benefits: What If You're Fired?

Some reasons for termination might make you ineligible for unemployment benefits.

Unemployment Benefits: What If You Quit?

If you quit a job without good cause, you may not qualify for unemployment benefits.