San Ramon Employment Lawyer

San Ramon Employment Lawyer Standing Up for Worker Rights

Employees in San Ramon and across the East Bay have the right to a safe work environment free from discrimination, harassment, or other unlawful treatment. California and federal labor laws provide important protections to workers. If you have suffered employment violations in the workplace, a San Ramon employment lawyer can help you recover damages through a lawsuit.

Attorney Jason Erlich of Erlich Law Firm has dedicated more than 20 years of his life to protecting the rights of employees who have been wronged. He provides workers with skilled legal representation, always acting in their best interests.

Major Employers in San Ramon

San Ramon is a thriving East Bay city located in Contra Costa County. Many national and multinational companies have headquarters or divisions in San Ramon, including ENGEO, Toyota, Chevron, SAP America, AT&T, GE Digital, Robert Half International, and IBM. Robert Half International has 1,120 employees, while GE Digital has around 1,149 workers, making these companies among the major employers in San Ramon.

The corporate office of 24-Hour Fitness, one of the world’s largest fitness club franchises, is also located in the city. Another major employer in the area is Primed Management Consulting, which has 453 employees.

San Ramon has a highly skilled workforce that consists of both residents and commuters. With easy access to Interstates 580 and 680, the city attracts a high number of workers from across the Bay Area. San Ramon’s employment rate increased by 7.22 percent from 38,000 workers in 2019 to 40,700 people in 2020.

Downtown San Ramon is home to City Center Bishop Ranch, which has developed into a popular hub for shopping, dining, and entertainment in the Tri-Valley region. Restaurants range from casual eateries like Mendocino Farms and Curry Up Now to more upscale options like LB Steak and The Slanted Door. The city also has a Whole Foods Market that employs 195 people and Target with around 269 workers.

Key Industries in San Ramon

Technology Industry

With its proximity to Silicon Valley, San Ramon has a vibrant tech sector that comprises more than 75 different companies. Software engineering is one of the most common jobs in the area due to the major presence of tech firms in San Ramon. The city’s tech employees work in everything from startups to big names like SAP America and IBM. Software firms Five9 and Accela have headquarters in San Ramon. The city is also home to Rainier Therapeutics, a biotechnology company.

Energy Production and Services

Chevron and Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) are among San Ramon’s largest employers. PG&E has 358 workers, while Chevron has several thousand employees. Although the oil giant has downsized its offices, San Ramon remains the site of its global headquarters. In addition to natural gas, electric, and oil companies, the city also has employees who work for employers that focus on renewable energy.

Health Care Sector

San Ramon Regional Medical Center is a major employer in the region, with around 700 workers. The John Muir Health partner hospital offers 24-hour emergency care, as well as inpatient and outpatient services. Around 11.7 percent of the city’s residents work in the healthcare sector. San Ramon also has various ambulatory health care services and clinics such as San Ramon Urgent Care and Bayside Medical Group. As the population continues to grow, the city maintains a high demand for healthcare professionals, particularly registered nurses.

Retail and Restaurant Industry

One of the major retail hubs in San Ramon is City Center Bishop Ranch, which features a variety of stores like West Elm, Sephora, Nike, and Gap. It is also a trendy destination for foodies with options like Sprinkles, Delarosa, Philz Coffee and Ramen Hiroshi. Another frequented shopping area is Crow Canyon Commons, with retailers such as Sprouts, Big 5, Total Wine, and Ace Hardware. 

Workplace Violations in San Ramon

San Ramon is home to small businesses as well as large companies like Chevron, Bank of the West, GE Digital, and Robert Half International. Employers of all sizes and industries are required to follow California labor laws. When they fail to do so, it is possible to hold them accountable for their illegal actions against workers.

Losing your job or having to deal with discrimination in the workplace is stressful. When an employer, supervisor, or coworker has mistreated you, you may feel powerless. However, the law allows you to recover compensation through an employment lawsuit.

Erlich Law Firm handles employment law cases in the following practice areas:

• Wrongful termination
• Wage and hour violations
• Age discrimination
• Disability discrimination
• Gender discrimination
• Pregnancy discrimination
• Sexual harassment
• Medical leave violations

How Employment Violations Occur in San Ramon Workplaces

Technology Industry

Gender-based pay disparities are all too common in tech. However, employment violations can occur in many other ways. Creating a hostile work environment through sexual harassment or discrimination that targets certain workers is unlawful. Maintaining a so-called bro culture in which female employees are subjected to derogatory remarks, unwanted sexual advances, or a lack of promotional opportunities is not only unpleasant, but it is also a violation of California labor laws.

Tech companies may not engage in age discrimination in hiring or employment decisions, favoring younger employees over older, more experienced professionals. It is also illegal for management to retaliate against employees who report unethical practices or raise concerns about privacy issues. When companies prioritize profits above all else, workers often suffer the effects in the form of workplace violations. In such cases, the worker may have a claim for wrongful termination or retaliation. 

Energy Production and Services

Project management plays an important role in San Ramon’s corporate landscape. Project managers at various companies are instrumental in keeping plans on track, managing resources, and ensuring successful completion. They also have a duty to ensure that no labor law violations are occurring under their watch.

Projects require close collaboration between different employees within a company. Working relationships can quickly deteriorate among team members when there is discriminatory treatment in the workplace.

Discrimination can be based on race, gender, age, religion, disability, and other personal characteristics protected under California law. For example, an employee with a disability may request necessary medical equipment or modifications of work tasks. If the employer refuses to discuss reasonable accommodations, it may constitute disability discrimination.

Employees who report safety concerns, environmental violations, or other illegal practices in the energy industry are protected by law from retaliation for whistleblowing activities. Nonetheless, some employers engage in unlawful retaliation by firing, demoting, or otherwise mistreating employees who come forward with complaints. 

Health Care Sector

Healthcare workers, including registered nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, and others, may be subjected to violations related to overtime and scheduling. While working long shifts is not uncommon in the healthcare industry, employees should be properly compensated for doing so. An employer can be held accountable for failing to provide legally required meal and rest breaks or denying overtime pay to employees.

The healthcare sector is not immune to discriminatory practices and workplace harassment. Medical professionals may face discrimination based on factors such as race, gender, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation. Age discrimination can occur in hiring, particularly for client-facing roles such as a medical office receptionist. It is unlawful for an employer to set age limits in a job posting.

Managers and supervisors may misuse their authority by violating the basic rights of workers. For example, young workers who are new to the field may be subjected to bullying or harassment. Such behavior can take various forms, including offensive comments, verbal abuse or being assigned unfavorable job duties. Nursing staff may be forced to work extra hours without pay under the threat of losing their jobs if they disobey.

Retail and Restaurant Industry

Wage and hour violations occur far too frequently in the retail and restaurant industries. Employers may violate basic labor laws by paying employees below minimum wage or refusing to pay overtime to eligible workers. They may deny rest breaks or fail to provide workers with suitable facilities for meal breaks.

Restaurant workers may be subjected to tip theft in which employers unlawfully withhold a portion, or all, of an employee’s tips. Employment violations can also include inadequate record-keeping of hours worked. Additionally, asking employees to work off the clock or perform job-related tasks without pay is unlawful. For example, a store owner may not require workers to arrive before their shift starts to undergo unpaid bag checks.

Another way in which worker rights are often violated is misclassification. Sometimes employers will misclassify workers as independent contractors to avoid providing benefits and protections mandated by California labor laws. For example, a restaurant may incorrectly label their waitstaff as independent contractors rather than employees to avoid paying overtime.

Filing an Employment Lawsuit

Employment law violations pose a threat to workers’ livelihoods. Being wrongfully terminated or constantly harassed in the office can have a real, lasting impact on a person’s financial and emotional well-being.

Filing an employment lawsuit allows workers to recover compensation, including back pay, lost wages, pain and suffering, among other types of damages. In some cases, a wrongfully terminated worker may be reinstated to their job. Punitive damages are available in certain lawsuits if the employer engaged in malicious or willful conduct.

Erlich Law Firm has won millions for our clients. Along with handling individual employment disputes, we have also taken on class-action lawsuits against large employers.

How a San Ramon Employment Lawyer Can Help

San Ramon employees who are experiencing workplace violations can benefit from having skilled legal representation. Hiring an employment lawyer gives you the best chance of getting a successful outcome in your case.

When you choose Erlich Law Firm, you can expect top-notch, personalized service. Unlike larger employment law firms that tend to push for a quick settlement, we always act in the best interests of your case.

Your employment lawyer will work closely with you throughout the legal process, keeping you updated on developments. When a settlement cannot be negotiated, we are ready to take your lawsuit to trial. The goal is to obtain the compensation you deserve so that you can move forward with your life.

Jason Erlich understands how devastating it can be to experience discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or other unlawful treatment at work. He knows that going up against an employer can be difficult, which is why he aims to empower employees who feel they are stuck in an impossible situation.

Erlich Law Firm is here to answer all your questions and help you understand what to expect when taking legal action.

Call for a Free Case Evaluation

If you have been wrongfully terminated, faced workplace discrimination or experienced other employment violations, you may be able to recover damages. The law gives you the power to stop your employer’s illegal practices. Contact the experienced San Ramon employment lawyers at Erlich Law Firm today to get started.