San Diego Employment Lawyers

The majority of Americans dedicate more of their time to working than most other activities. The ability to earn a living and provide for one’s family and self is an essential human right and key aspect of a meaningful and productive life.  At Harrison & Bodell, our San Diego employment lawyers are fully aware of the importance of a safe, fair and non-hostile work environment to not only you as an individual, but its importance to our society as a whole. We dedicate a large portion of our practice to defending the rights of those who have suffered from unfair, illegal, and discriminatory practices in the workplace.

Workplace Discrimination

In California, employment is “at will,” meaning that, in general, an employer can choose to hire and retain employees who, in their judgment, are best qualified for a position, provided their decision does not discriminate unfairly against an existing or potential employee based on a protected personal attribute or opinion that does not affect that person’s ability to perform the job. In order to create equality and foster the tolerance of diversity that we, as a nation, pride ourselves on, federal and state laws, including California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, have established protection for certain categories of employees who have historically suffered from discrimination in the workplace based on:

• Race
• Religion
• National origin
• Gender
• Sexual orientation
• Pregnancy
• Disability
• Medical condition
• Age

At Harrison & Bodell, our attorneys have an extensive knowledge of employment law and are prepared to file suit against employers when our clients have suffered from workplace discrimination or harassment based on their inclusion in one or more of these protected categories. In addition, we help our clients file claims with the appropriate agencies that have been charged with enforcing fair employment practices, including the Department of Fair Employment & Housing (DFEH) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Wage and Hour Disputes

California law requires employers to properly compensate their employees, giving citizens the ability to earn a decent living with minimum wage laws, laws requiring appropriate breaks and meal times, and laws providing for overtime compensation for regular employees. Employers often attempt to circumvent these laws by various means, including misclassifying workers as exempt, management, or independent contractors. At Harrison & Bodell, we investigate wage and hour disputes and work diligently to hold employers accountable when they have violated the law and denied our clients the compensation they’ve rightfully earned.

Illegal Retaliation

Some employers attempt to discourage employees from exercising certain legal rights—for example reporting an illegal policy or unsafe condition or taking advantage of legally mandated maternity or medical leave—by threatening or actually retaliating against those who take these actions. When an employer has retaliated against you by demoting, harassing, or terminating you when you have filed a complaint with the appropriate agency about an unfair or improper labor practice or taken a leave that is allowed and protected by law, the labor attorneys at Harrison & Bodell are prepared to take appropriate legal action on your behalf.

Dedicated to Safeguarding Your Rights

In our diverse Southern California community, it is essential for the well-being of all our citizens that all employers maintain a fair and equitable workplace. The committed employment law attorneys at Harrison & Bodell, LLP are passionate in their belief that everyone is equally entitled to the opportunity to work for a decent living, in harmony with others, in a safe and tolerant environment. If you’ve been a victim of discrimination, sexual harassment, or other unfair or illegal labor practice, call us today.