Can Workplace Discrimination Be Based on Assumptions—Not Facts?

When Assumptions Become Illegal in California Discrimination in the workplace often begins with a seemingly harmless assumption. "She's too old to learn new technology." "He won't want that promotion because of his family." "They probably can't handle client meetings with that accent." Despite appearing as casual observations, these assumptions can cross the line into illegal…

Can You Be Discriminated Against for a Condition That Isn’t Obvious?

Hidden But Real: The Truth About Subtle Health Condition Discrimination Mental health discrimination remains a persistent yet often invisible barrier for California workers despite comprehensive legal protections. Although California boasts some of the strongest workplace protection laws in the nation, employees with mental health conditions still face significant discrimination that can be difficult to identify…

What If You’re Treated Differently After Returning From Leave?

FMLA Retaliation in California: What Your Employer Can't Do in 2026 FMLA retaliation happens more often than many California employees realize, despite clear legal protections designed to prevent employer backlash. Taking medical leave shouldn't put your job at risk, yet many workers face subtle or overt punishment for exercising their federally protected rights. Unfortunately, many…

FMLA vs CFRA Leave in California: Which Gives Better Benefits?

California FMLA vs CFRA Leave: Which Gives Better Benefits? When facing a medical crisis or family emergency, understanding your FMLA leave in California could be the difference between keeping your job and losing it. However, many employees don't realize that California offers significantly better leave protections than federal law. While the Family and Medical Leave…

Medical Leave Rights: Can Your Employer Cut Your Pay?

Can Your Employer Cut Your Pay While You’re On Medical Leave? Understanding your medical leave rights is crucial when facing health challenges that require time away from work. While the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides job protection during medical leave, many employees are surprised to discover their employers may sometimes legally reduce their…

How to Request Reasonable Accommodations in California

How to Request Reasonable Accommodations: A Step-by-Step Guide for Workers Did you know that nearly 75% of workplace accommodations cost employers nothing, while the rest typically cost less than $500? Despite this, many California workers struggle to get the reasonable accommodations they need to perform their jobs effectively. Under California law, you have a right…

How to Protect Your Rights When Fired While on Maternity Leave

How to Protect Your Rights When Fired While on Maternity Leave in California Being fired while on maternity leave can feel like a devastating blow at what should be a joyful time in your life. Unfortunately, this happens more often than you might think, with many California employers wrongfully terminating new mothers despite strong legal…

FMLA Cases Won By Employees: True Stories That Protected Workers

FMLA Cases Won By Employees When you're facing a serious health condition or family medical emergency, the last thing you need is to worry about losing your job. Unfortunately, many workers find their employment threatened during these vulnerable times, despite legal protections in place. FMLA cases won by employees demonstrate that workers can successfully fight…

Hidden Signs of Disability Discrimination in the Workplace

11 Hidden Signs of Disability Discrimination in the Workplace Disability discrimination in the workplace often hides behind seemingly routine management decisions and subtle workplace behaviors. You might not even realize you're experiencing it. Despite strong legal protections in California, identifying discrimination remains challenging for many employees with disabilities. Employers rarely admit discriminatory intent, instead masking…

Why Your “100% Healed” Policy Violates ADA Compliance

Why Your “100% Healed” Policy Violates ADA Compliance in California Many employers unknowingly violate ADA compliance by maintaining “100% healed” policies that prevent employees with disabilities from returning to work. These policies typically require employees to fully recover from injuries or medical conditions before resuming their duties, regardless of whether they could perform essential job…

Most Employer ‘Undue Hardship’ Claims Fail in California

Why Undue Hardship Claims Fail in California Courts (2026 Update) Did you know that nearly 70% of employer “undue hardship” defenses fail when challenged in California courts? Employers frequently misunderstand what truly constitutes undue hardship under California law, leading to improper denials of reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities. Despite California’s robust employee protections, many…