Orange County
Employment Law Attorneys

The relationship between an employer and their employees is the basis of employment law, which focuses on the understanding of rights and responsibilities between these two parties. More specifically, employment law addresses wages, hours, workplace environments, contract provisions, hiring, training, firing, and discrimination. We spend so much time at work that it’s critical laws are put in place which prevents the mistreatment of employees by those they work for. Unfortunately, in many cases, these laws aren’t abided by, and employees don’t know how to properly go about addressing such violations. In many cases, workers might not even be aware that they are the victim of employment law violations.

It isn’t uncommon for employees to be left with no recourse other than suing their employer when faced with workplace problems. To sue your employer, you have to take steps such as reporting them to federal agencies that deal with employment discrimination. If you feel you have been the victim of a breach of California employment law, you can seek impartial legal assistance from a local employment attorney if you are unsure which direction you should take.

However, even if you do your due diligence and report your case to the right agencies, there are instances where your case may not be resolvable out of court. If your problem can’t be fixed or if you lost money, a lawsuit may be the next step. Your employment problems could be compensated for both economic losses as well as any non-economic losses, such as emotional or psychological suffering. The rights of employees infringed upon by employers or coworkers need to be protected.

When an employee is wronged, he or she sometimes needs professional assistance to pursue justice, fair dealings, and good faith employment. If you are facing an employment law claim in Orange County, our professional employment attorneys have expertise in this specific area.

All of the above-mentioned state and federal laws protect workers throughout California, including Orange County. During the past few decades, a number of acts of discrimination and harassment have led to federal employment laws that apply to everyone in the country. States are also given the freedom to enact their own employment laws in order to protect their workers. California is a state that is friendly to employees and concerned about their health, safety, and happiness.

In Orange County and throughout California, a number of acts of discrimination and harassment have led to federal employment laws that apply to everyone in the country. Additionally, employers are also subject to state employment laws. A lot of California’s employees are not treated well, and the state cares about them as a whole. As an employee in Orange County, you are protected by the following federal laws:

• Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA)
• Wage and hour laws
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)
• Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
• Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN)
• Whistleblower and retaliation laws
• Title VII on workplace discrimination
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Additionally, employers cannot breach the terms of an employment contract without legal justification. Employees and employers breach employment contracts when neither fulfills their responsibilities. The non-breaching party can still seek financial damages if this happens. In general, breaches of contract involve wrongful terminations, violations of non-competition or non-solicitation agreements, and failures to remit severance pay or wages.

It can be extremely difficult to establish a breach of a contract that has only be implied or was communicated via word of mouth. Additionally, it’s important to note that an employee may be able to be fired despite signing an employment contract. In reality, most workers in California are hired on an “at-will” basis, which means they may be terminated at any time, for any reason. However, in cases where employment contracts are breach unlawfully, workers are entitled to seek compensation. In many cases, the employer is required to pay the full price of the contract. 

Our professional attorneys make sure to stay up to date on all California employment laws, both on the federal and state level. This ensures they our firm has the ability to protect and fight for the rights of anyone who comes to us with the belief that they have had their employment rights violated. In addition to having extensive experience with litigation across a range of employment law matters, our professional attorneys also have extensive knowledge of:

• Discrimination on the basis of age, race, sex, disability, or other prohibited classifications
• Sexual harassment 
• Retaliatory termination and whistleblower complaints
• Defense of wage and hour class action lawsuits
• Disputes over sick leave, family leave, pregnancy or maternity leave, or vacation
• Unpaid overtime, wage and hour violations, or sales commission claims
• Independent contractor-employee classification issues
• Negotiation and enforcement of severance agreements

Proving that you have been the victim of a breach of an employment contract or the victim of failure to adhere to employment laws can be very difficult to do. Far too often, victims have experienced an injustice but never receive the proper compensation because they fail to prove their point adequately or don’t have the legal representation to assist them. If you believe you have been unfairly or illegally treated by an employer, you’re entitled to compensation. In order to get that compensation, it’s highly recommended that you seek the assistance of an expert attorney who is familiar with federal and California employment laws.

The labor law attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas can help! As a result of our employment litigation experience, we can identify the strongest claims and defend them, as well as identify the appropriate forum for resolving each individual case. With multiple offices located in Irvine, Anaheim, Los Angeles, El Segundo, Riverside and San Diego, our trial lawyers represent mistreated employees across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a free consultation, please call 949-727-9300.