Santa Barbara Employment Law Blog

Whistleblower laws violated in wrongful termination claim

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates posted in Wrongful Termination on Thursday, December 19, 2019.

These days, businesses and other establishments are constantly looking for ways to cut costs and save money. Unfortunately, this sometimes gives business owners and leaders enough incentive to participate in unethical activity. Unfortunately, employees who witness and report this unethical activity often face retaliatory acts such as wrongful termination. Whistleblower laws offer protection for California workers who report illegal or unethical activity in the workplace.

A man in another state filed a lawsuit against his former employer over claims that his termination violated whistleblower laws. According to the lawsuit, the man worked as an engineer for the city. The lawsuit said that state laws required cities to have a licensed engineer to work on certain public works tasks. However, the man alleged that the city excluded licensed engineers despite requirements and chose to engage in unlicensed engineering practices.

Yes, your employer has to keep accurate timekeeping records

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates on Thursday, December 12, 2019.

Time clocks can be a confounding part of the work experience. While some employers go by a down-to-the-second approach with time clocks, others use rolling time clocks that roll up or down to the hour or quarter hour, depending on when you clock in.

As an employee, it's important that you know how the time clock functions at work. If you don't understand it well, you could be cutting your own hours short or giving away some of your time for free.

Wage and hour claims: Disneyland involved in class-action suit

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates posted in Wage and Hour Claims on Wednesday, December 11, 2019.

In today's cutthroat business world, companies are looking for more and more ways to increase profits. Many companies achieve this by cutting costs. Unfortunately, this can directly affect loyal and dedicated employees. Most wage and hour claims these days include allegations of employers neglecting to pay employees. A group of Disneyland employees in California have filed a class-action lawsuit against the popular theme park and resort, alleging that Disney failed to pay them a living wage.

According to reports, the lawsuit alleges that Disneyland in Anaheim violated requirements of legislation known as Measure L. Measure L mandates that hospitality businesses in the resort district of Anaheim that benefit from a city subsidy have to pay employees a minimum of $15 per hour. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim that Anaheim is using tax dollars to pay off a six-story parking garage located on Disneyland resort property. They allege Disneyland collects over $35 million a year in revenues from the garage, so Disney is clearly benefiting from a city subsidy.

Wrongful termination can be a traumatic thing to experience

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates posted in Wrongful Termination on Wednesday, December 4, 2019.

Losing a job can be very stressful and difficult. The experience can even be downright traumatic if loss of employment resulted from a wrongful termination. In another state, a woman filed a wrongful termination claim against her former employer after she allegedly experienced harassment and retaliation from her superiors. Workers in California who face situations similar to what this woman encountered may have the grounds to pursue legal action.

The woman worked as a bus driver for a city in another state. According to the lawsuit, the woman was sexually harassed by several of her superiors. In one instance portrayed in the suit, the woman met with one of her supervisors to discuss a bus accident, and the supervisor asked her on a date after making sexual comments. The woman claimed she was retaliated against and written up after she refused the supervisor's advances.

Principal faced wrongful termination for reporting wrongdoing

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates posted in Wrongful Termination on Tuesday, November 26, 2019.

When employers are called out for unethical or inappropriate behavior, they sometimes seek revenge against those who exposed them. In the state of California, harassment and retaliation in the workplace is a direct violation of established employment laws. The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 protects workers from facing retaliatory acts for reporting violations or other unethical acts. A woman in another state filed a wrongful termination lawsuit after she was allegedly fired for reporting unethical activity.

The woman worked as a principal for a charter school. According to the lawsuit, the school participated in a number of unethical acts. The lawsuit claimed that school administrators sought to prevent special needs students from attending the school and also tried to get special needs students to transfer out of the school.

Wrongful termination: Man allegedly fired for using benefits

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates posted in Wrongful Termination on Wednesday, November 20, 2019.

For many full-time workers in California and across the country, employment is not only about wages, but also about the many benefits that full-time employees receive. Eligible full-time employees often receive benefits such as paid vacations, health insurance and worker's compensation. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for employers in today's fast-paced world of business to retaliate against employees for using benefits to which they are entitled. When this happens, victims can take legal action. A man in another state claims he was fired in retaliation for using worker's compensation benefits and he has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit.

The man worked as a laborer in the public works department in his city. He claims he was retaliated against and fired for filing a worker's compensation claim after being injured at work. According to the lawsuit, he was performing his job duties and riding on the back of a garbage truck when he was struck by a vehicle. The lawsuit said the impact caused the man to suffer severe injuries and he was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Workplace discrimination still occurs across the United States

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates posted in Workplace Discrimination on Thursday, November 14, 2019.

It goes without saying that losing a job can have massive financial implications. However, when a worker loses his or her job due to workplace discrimination, the experience can also be emotionally and psychologically traumatic. Despite significant advancements in women's rights, gender discrimination is still one of the most common forms of discrimination in workplaces in California and across the country. Discrimination in any form is wrong and is never justified. A woman in another state filed a lawsuit over claims that she was fired from her job simply because she is a female.

Reportedly, the woman worked as a police officer. According to the lawsuit, her supervisor made several discriminatory comments to her and allegedly desired to employ only male police officers. The plaintiff claimed that she was the only female police officer in the city.

Were you denied a non-discretionary bonus by your employer?

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates on Tuesday, November 12, 2019.

You count on your wages to help you cover the costs of maintaining your household. You probably already know that you have a right to take action if your employer does not pay your hourly wages. Fewer people realize that they also have rights when a company doesn't pay certain kinds of bonuses.

People often think of a bonus as something separate from wages, but your right to a bonus depends on how the company offers it. Many bonuses have the same protection as your hourly wages or salary.

Retaliation cited in wrongful termination claim

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates posted in Wrongful Termination on Thursday, November 7, 2019.

It goes without saying that losing a job can have significant financial impacts. However, when a worker is fired in retaliation, the experience can be psychologically and emotionally devastating. Employees in California who are subjected to unfair treatment or witness unethical conduct in the workplace have a right to speak up without fear of retaliation. So, what can be done if an individual loses his or her job as a result of retaliation? This allegedly happened to a woman in another state and she filed a wrongful termination lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, the woman worked for a capital management company and was sexually assaulted by her boss. It was asserted that the woman was on a business trip with the defendant when the alleged incident occurred. Allegedly, the pair were supposed to be staying in separate rooms but the boss intentionally only booked one room.

Lawsuit alleging workplace discrimination settled for $40,000

On behalf of Anticouni & Associates posted in Workplace Discrimination on Wednesday, October 30, 2019.

Treating a person unfairly just because of differing gender, race or age is not only wrong -- it is a denial of basic human rights. Discrimination can be traumatic and have permanent psychological effects for victims. In the state of California, discrimination in the workplace is illegal. Unfortunately, workplace discrimination continues to happen at an alarming rate across the country these days.

In another state, a man filed a lawsuit after he allegedly faced harassment and discrimination at work. The man, who is African-American, worked for a truck washing company. According to the lawsuit, the man was the only African-American working at his facility for the majority of his employment and was harassed by co-workers and supervisors who used racial slurs.