Pleasanton Employment Attorney

Pleasanton Employment Attorney Protecting the Rights of Workers

Employees in Pleasanton and elsewhere in the Tri-Valley deserve to have quality legal representation when facing workplace violations. Workers can pursue compensation under California and federal laws when employers fail to pay wages in full, engage in discrimination, target them for retaliation or behave in other unlawful ways. If you have been mistreated at work, Erlich Law Firm is here to help you.

Key Industries and Employers in Pleasanton

Pleasanton has a variety of employers across many different industries, including professional and technical services, healthcare, and retail. Kaiser Permanente, Macy’s and Clorox are some of the major employers located in Pleasanton. Along with large corporations, the city is also home to small businesses like Towne Center Books, Nonni’s Bistro and Yoga Fusion.

As of 2022, the top five employers in Pleasanton were Workday, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Oracle America, Roche Molecular Systems and Stanford Healthcare – ValleyCare. Together, Workday and Kaiser Foundation Hospitals accounted for more than 9,000 workers.

Pleasanton’s workforce of over 59,750 is made up of residents as well as commuters from across Alameda County and beyond. Around 10,992 workers are in the professional services industry, while 7,276 are employed in healthcare. Information, construction, and retail round out the city’s top five industries.

Around 12.5 percent of Pleasanton residents are employed in professional, scientific and technical services. One of the largest employers in the sector is Workday. Headquartered in Pleasanton, Workday is a cloud-based software company with 5,017 employees. Other key employers in the industry include Oracle America, Blackhawk Network, ServiceMax, 10x Genomics, Veeva Systems, and Tekion Corp.

Healthcare is another top industry in Pleasanton. Major employers include Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Stanford Healthcare – ValleyCare, Axis Community Health, Sutter Health, and medical equipment manufacturer Abbott.

Retail has a significant presence in Pleasanton with retailers like Albertsons, Walmart, and Gap. The city is also home to Stoneridge Shopping Center, which attracts shoppers from all over the East Bay. Additionally, Ross Stores has its corporate headquarters in Pleasanton. About 11.5 percent of Pleasanton residents work in the retail sector.

Workplace Violations in Pleasanton

All workers in Pleasanton and throughout the Bay Area are protected under California and federal labor laws. Unfortunately, many employers try to take advantage of employees who may not fully understand their rights.

Employment attorney Jason Erlich is dedicated to standing up for workers experiencing a wide range of employment law issues. Erlich Law Firm helps employees get just compensation in many different types of cases, including:

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

Workplace Violations Across Different Industries

Workplace violations can occur in any industry. Here are some examples of how workers may encounter employment law issues while working in healthcare; professional, scientific and technical services; and retail.

Healthcare Industry

Demanding hours and long shifts are often the norm in the healthcare sector, with workers sometimes required to be on duty at night or work for extended periods. Nurses may face overtime violations where they are forced to work beyond their scheduled shifts without proper pay for overtime hours. They may also be denied proper meal breaks or rest breaks.

An employee may discover safety concerns at a hospital, such as the use of unsterilized equipment, unsafe working conditions or corners being cut in patient care. If the employer fires the worker for reporting potential violations to the authorities in good faith, it may constitute wrongful termination and retaliation.

Employers and coworkers are expected to treat each other professionally. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Sexual harassment is another issue that is commonly reported in healthcare settings. For example, a physician assistant may experience unwanted sexual advances from their boss and face retaliation upon refusing them.

Discrimination in hiring practices is another issue in healthcare, where job applicants may face denial of employment based on factors such as age, gender, race or disability status. A survey of healthcare workers found that 59 percent of respondents said they had experienced or witnessed racial discrimination from their coworkers.

Gender discrimination often manifests in the form of pay disparities, which are known to occur in the healthcare industry. For example, a male physician may get a higher salary than a female physician despite both having similar qualifications and experience. 

Professional, Scientific and Technical Services

Workers in professional, scientific and technical services firms face various workplace challenges, including wage theft resulting from being misclassified as independent contractors instead of employees. Misclassification deprives workers of benefits like overtime pay, sick leave, and health insurance.

Pleasanton tech companies may misclassify employees as exempt because they are salaried or highly paid. However, California has strict requirements in place for worker classification. When an employee is falsely assumed to be exempt instead of non-exempt, they lose out on the right to overtime pay, meal breaks and more.

Professional, scientific, and technical services firms may hire consultants, freelancers or contractors. Employers should not assume such workers are independent contractors simply based on the so-called industry standard. They may fail to realize that what is considered normal practice in the industry is a violation of labor laws. Workers can only be classified as independent contractors if they meet several criteria.

Sexual harassment is another issue that may occur in the industry’s workplaces. Some tech companies encourage a laidback, informal atmosphere. Unfortunately, such work environments can give rise to misconduct, particularly if management is not trained to address incidents of harassment or discrimination.

For example, a software engineer may be asked to perform a sexual favor in exchange for a promotion, which is known as quid pro quo sexual harassment. An accountant may face bullying or intimidation by supervisors, creating a hostile work environment. An advertising employee who reports wage violations or discrimination may face retaliation from their employer, such as wrongful termination, being assigned undesirable tasks or even a pay cut.

Employers in professional, scientific and technical services may fail to have harassment policies in place, thereby not addressing worker complaints properly. Under California law, employers are required to establish an internal process to handle complaints of workplace wrongdoing. Without such processes, employment misconduct can go unchecked. 

Retail Sector

Retail workers may face wage theft in various ways, some more obvious than others. For example, employers may pay grocery store cashiers below minimum wage or deny them overtime pay for working extended hours. During busy shopping days, a store employee may be forced to work through their breaks to serve customers, in violation of California’s meal and rest break laws.

Off-the-clock bag checks have been an issue in the retail industry. Many large retail store managers require workers to undergo mandatory security inspections when a shift ends. Workers should be paid for time spent waiting for bag checks. This is yet another way in which wage and hour violations may occur in the retail sector.

More than 13 percent of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sexual harassment claims are filed by retail workers. Retail stores are decentralized workplaces, which is one of the factors that can contribute to misconduct on the job. With corporate offices far removed from day-to-day retail operations, store managers may be unaccountable for their own or workers’ unlawful behavior. They may also be ill-equipped to handle workplace harassment issues and feel hesitant to contact the corporate office for direction. 

In 2020, more than 50 percent of retail workers were aged 16 to 34. Younger employees in their first job may be less aware of their rights and workplace norms, making them more susceptible to sexual harassment, wage theft, and other violations.

Employees who speak up about workplace misconduct may suffer retaliation. For example, a store manager may reduce a worker’s shifts, leading to decreased wages. Or they may refuse to offer sales staff any further training opportunities or chances of promotion. Retaliating against a worker for exercising their legal right to report wrongdoing is unlawful.

What Documents Do I Need for a Pleasanton Employment Claim?

When filing a Pleasanton employment claim, workers must gather certain documents and information to support their case. While the specific requirements may vary depending on the nature of your claim and what workplace violations are involved, there are some common types of documents you may need:

• Employment agreement or contract: The document may outline the terms and conditions of your employment, including compensation, benefits, termination procedures, and dispute resolution processes.
• Pay stubs and records: Collect copies of your pay stubs and any other records documenting your wages, hours worked, overtime pay, commissions, bonuses, and deductions. These documents can help establish wage violations or discrepancies.
• Personnel file: Request a copy of your personnel file from your employer, which may include documents such as performance evaluations, disciplinary records, attendance records and any written complaints or grievances you have filed about workplace misconduct you experienced.
• Correspondence and communications: Gather any emails, letters, or other written communications between you and your employer regarding your employment, including requests for accommodations, complaints about harassment or discrimination, or notices of termination.
• Medical records: If your claim involves allegations of disability discrimination, collect relevant medical records and doctor’s notes. They can help establish the extent of your disability and show that you require reasonable accommodations at your job.
• Documentation of discrimination or harassment: If your claim involves discrimination or harassment, document instances in which you were subjected to wrongdoing. Include dates, times, witnesses, and any steps you took to report the behavior.

An experienced Pleasanton employment attorney can evaluate your claim and ensure you have the necessary documentation to support your case. Additionally, the lawyer will make sure your paperwork is filed according to the applicable deadlines so that you do not lose your right to take legal action and recover compensation.

How a Pleasanton Employment Attorney Can Help

Going through an employment dispute is a stressful experience, especially when it involves dealing with your employer. Companies are typically armed with teams of lawyers fighting for their interests. When you hire an employment lawyer, you boost your chances of being taken seriously and getting a successful outcome.

If your rights were violated, you could be entitled to damages. An experienced Pleasanton employment attorney can negotiate a settlement with your employer and even file a lawsuit in court if no agreement is reached. The legal process is also likely to be less overwhelming when you know that your case is in the hands of a capable lawyer.

Why Hire Erlich Law Firm?

Jason Erlich has more than 20 years of experience holding employers accountable for their unlawful actions against employees. He is dedicated to protecting the rights of workers in Pleasanton and across the East Bay. 

Erlich Law Firm only takes on cases from employees, not employers. Jason represents clients in many different types of employment disputes, including class actions.

When you choose Erlich Law Firm, you will get top-notch service and guidance throughout the legal process. You can expect a personalized approach that always prioritizes your best interests, something that large law firms often lack. The goal is to hold your employer accountable and get you the compensation you deserve so that you can move forward with your life.

Call for a Free Case Evaluation

If you have been wrongfully terminated, denied overtime, discriminated against or subject to any other workplace violations in Pleasanton, you may be able to recover damages. You can also get your employer to stop their unlawful employment practices. Contact the experienced Pleasanton employment attorneys at Erlich Law Firm today to get started.