Employment Lawyers Los Angeles
OUR SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEYS FIGHT AGGRESSIVELY FOR CALIFORNIA WORKERS’ RIGHTS. OUR TRACK RECORD SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.
OUR RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
TO DATE, ALONG WITH OUR CO-COUNSEL, OUR EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS HAVE RECOVERED:
$125+ Million
Our case was handled in a professional and efficient manner with constant updates from Jonathan and his staff making us feel comfortable and well informed of the proceedings. We would highly recommend Jonathan to anyone. Thank you again Jonathan.
Great lawyer! I would recommend 100% These guys know employment law! You won’t be disappointed.
Jonathan Melmed is an excellent attorney, so kind, patient, and caring of his clients!
I would refer any class action employment case to Jonathan. He is unbelievably hard working. He puts in the long hours and is a true inspiration. I highly recommend.
Jonathan’s ability to handle complex class action cases is unparalleled. His understanding of the intricacies of wage and hour claims is what enables him to obtain the very best results for his clients. This is an attorney I would highly recommend. 5 stars all around.
As a fellow attorney, I’ve worked with Jonathan on several issues and he’s fantastic. I cannot say enough great things about e’s work ethic, attention to detail, and honesty. I would highly recommend calling and consulting with attorney Melmed.
Our Team
Serving All of California
EMPLOYMENT LAW Practice Areas
WE REPRESENT CLIENTS ACROSS CALIFORNIA
Class Action and PAGA Claims
Class Action and PAGA Claims. A class-action lawsuit is a single lawsuit brought on by a group of people or “class” in civil court. The lawsuit may be filed in state or federal court, depending on the type of case. This type of suit is appropriate in instances where numerous employees have similar claims against their employer. A class action avoids the difficulty of joining all employees in a single case, and the potential for inconsistent verdicts that could result from separate suits. Only one person, the “class representative,” needs to file a class-action lawsuit, and they may be a current or former employee. The class representative may seek to represent all other employees that are “similarly situated,” meaning they have similar claims as other employees and act in their best interest. Learn more about class action lawsuits in California.
WORK DISCRIMINATION
Work Discrimination. State and federal law ensure the protection of employees from discrimination in the workplace. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) grants employees in California protection from discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. The anti-discrimination provisions outlined in FEHA apply to all employers with five or more employees regardless of full-time or part-time status. If you have been discriminated against at work or during hiring/firing processes based on your protected class status, you may be eligible to file a discrimination claim.State and federal law ensure the protection of employees from discrimination in the workplace. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) grants employees in California protection from discrimination, retaliation, and harassment. The anti-discrimination provisions outlined in FEHA apply to all employers with five or more employees regardless of full-time or part-time status. If you have been discriminated against at work or during hiring/firing processes based on your protected class status, you may be eligible to file a discrimination claim. Learn more about workplace discrimination claims in California.
PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION
Pregnancy Discrimination. California law provides important protections for employees and job applicants who are either pregnant or new mothers. If you are pregnant, have a pregnancy-related medical condition, or are recovering from childbirth, state and federal anti-discrimination laws grant you protection from any harassment regarding such circumstances. California law prohibits employers from denying or interfering with these rights. Learn more about pregnancy discrimination claims in California.
GENDER BIAS AND PAY PARITY
Gender Bias and Pay Parity. An employee alleging wage discrimination based on gender can bring claims under federal or state law. The California Equal Pay Act requires an employee to prove they are being paid less than an employee of the opposite sex who is performing “substantially similar work.” An employer must then legitimize a reason for the pay difference (i.e., seniority, merit, productivity measurement, or some other “bona fide factor other than sex, race, or ethnicity”). Learn more about gender bias and pay parity claims in California.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual Harassment. Our lawyers in California understand the distressing impact of sexual harassment in the workplace. They are committed to helping victims build a case to maximize compensation for any damages caused. The law defines harassment as any unwelcome or offensive comments, touching, or sexual advances. If the conduct is objectively hostile or abusive, it can be against the law. Suing for sexual harassment requires the assistance of an experienced attorney.
If you or someone you know is or has been subject to a sexually hostile work environment while an employee, compensation may be due. The time to file a valid claim is short, so contact one of our sexual harassment lawyers as soon as possible for a free consultation. Do not lose your right to file a suit. Our team is ready to help.
WHISTLEBLOWER CLAIMS
Whistleblower Claims. A whistleblower is an employee that identifies fraud within their workplace and takes legal action to expose it. Under state and federal law, a whistleblower may qualify to receive a portion of the damages recovered by the government in return for reporting the fraud. California whistleblower protections seek to motivate employees to confront and expose corruption, regardless of threats or retaliation that may occur as a result. Some commonly exposed areas of fraudulent activity include Medicaid/Medicare fraud, tax fraud, overbilling, and unlawful prescription. Whistleblowers may often face illegal discrimination and/or retaliation from their employers for such actions. However, whistleblowers are entitled to legal protection. Learn more about whistleblower claims in California.
WRONGFUL TERMINATION
Wrongful Termination. In California, at-will employment allows either party (employer or employee) to end the relationship at any time, for any reason. At-will employment permits the employer to fire an employee for any reason if it is not illegal. Common wrongful termination cases include the employee’s protected class status (i.e., race, gender, or sex), whistleblower claims, or worker’s compensation claims. If you believe you have wrongfully terminated, you may be able to recover damages in a suit against your previous employer. Learn more about wrongful termination claims in California.
EMPLOYER RETALIATION
Employer Retaliation. It is illegal for an employer to retaliate against an employee that reports or otherwise opposes unlawful activity in the workplace. Retaliation is any adverse action an employer may take against an employee engaged in a protected activity. Filing complaints regarding harassment, discrimination, or unpaid wages is considered a protected activity. Adverse retaliatory action can manifest as being fired, laid off, demoted, reassigned to objectionable job duties, disregarded for promotions, receiving reduced wages, or negative performance reviews. Learn more about employer retaliation claims in California.
REST BREAK AND MEAL BREAK CLAIMS
Rest Break and Meal Break Claims. California law requires an employer to authorize and permit compliant meal and rest breaks for all its employees. Generally, an employer must provide a 30-minute unpaid meal period on or before the fifth and tenth hours of an employee’s shift. Additionally, California law grants a ten-minute paid rest period to accompany every four hours of work. The penalty for failure to provide either of these to an employee is one additional hour of pay at the employee’s regular pay rate per each workday they are not allowed. Learn more about rest break and meal break claims in California.
UNPAID OVERTIME AND MINIMUM WAGES
Unpaid Overtime and Minimum Wages. Workers deserve to be paid on time for all their hours worked. If your employer has failed to do so, you may be eligible to recover monetary damages under federal and state labor laws. You may also be entitled to additional damages, including any accrued legal costs. Our office fights for California workers’ rights daily and understands the impact of wage theft on hard-working individuals across all industries. Anyone can be a victim of wage theft. Our team has successfully recovered damages for healthcare, agriculture, banking, and other service-related workers in civil suits. If your employer has denied you overtime wages or has otherwise paid you improperly, you may be able to file a lawsuit. Learn more about unpaid wage claims in California.
NON-REIMBURSEMENT OF Work EXPENSES
Non-reimbursement of Business Expenses. California law ensures employees the right to reimbursement for all out-of-pocket business expenses. Cell phone usage, for example, is a recurrent out-of-pocket expense. When an employee uses their cell phone for work-related calls, an employer must compensate that employee for any minutes or data used. Reimbursement must occur regardless of an employee’s arrangements (unlimited plan, family plan, paid by a third person, etc.). State law prohibits employers from passing operating expenses onto employees in such ways. Learn more about non-reimbursement of business expense claims in California.
STOCK OPTION LITIGATION
Stock Option Litigation. Stock options and other equity agreements are becoming increasingly popular as compensation for employees and consultants. Although this may be an attractive point of a benefits package, the underlying terms and conditions are often vague, ambiguous, or otherwise complex leading to a dispute or potentially contentious litigation. Legal disputes can arise when a company is acquired or merged, an employee is terminated, or the employer fails to grant options/vest shares (which could violate provisions set in underlying agreements). Regardless of your situation, our attorneys are skilled and experienced in representing departed individuals in stock option litigation/arbitration. These types of lawsuits can be extraordinarily complex and require extensive legal expertise to maximize recovered damages. Learn more about stock option claims.
OUR EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEYS in Los angeles OFFER A 15-MINUTE CONSULTATION, FREE OF CHARGE AND COMPLETELY CONFIDENTIAL. WE ARE EXPERIENCED EMPLOYMENT LAW EXPERTS WELCOMING CASES ACROSS CALIFORNIA.
Free Consultation. The initial consultation aims to provide you with a better understanding of your rights as an employee and to help evaluate your options moving forward.
No Recovery Means No Fee. Our law firm represents clients on contingency, meaning you will not pay any costs upfront. Our fee is a percentage of what we recover on your behalf. If we are unable to recover any damages, you will not be responsible for any fees.
Experienced Legal Team. The attorneys at our practice have successfully recovered millions of dollars for our clients who have experienced sexual harassment and tens of millions of dollars in various other class-action cases. Our team takes pride in having negotiated whistleblower retaliation claims for executives at some of the country’s largest companies. This is all a testament to our professional achievement and why we continue to be recognized by peers as Super Lawyers, year after year.
Exceptional Record. Our team is motivated to win. Our track record speaks for itself. Check out our results page to learn more about our cases and victories.
Contact Our Office to Schedule a Free Consultation
OUR CLIENTS MATTER
We understand that this may be a distressing time for you and that it can be difficult to communicate the claims at issue. We will listen to your story, learn from you, and help you fight back.
If you are a victim of workplace abuse, we can help. We exclusively represent individuals needing legal advice, counseling, and litigation representation involving violations of California and federal employment law.
Our attorneys represent employees across California and do not charge any upfront costs or fees. Our initial 15-minute consultation is free and confidential. Feel free to contact us today.
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Whether you’re fighting against wrongful termination, sexual harassment, work discrimination, or a claim for unpaid wages, it’s crucial that you have an employment lawyer that will help you understand your rights, evaluate your options, formulate a strategy, and fight aggressively on your behalf. We also assist with negotiating severance agreements, pursuing stock option claims, and prosecuting claims for gender discrimination and equal pay. Our employment law firm can aggressively respond in response to your former employer’s illegal actions. For cases taken on a contingency basis, we do not charge any fees or costs upfront.