Trial Employment Attorney Practice Areas
Learn more about our employment law practice areas, what we handle, who we help, and how our California employment attorneys provide legal counsel to stand up for employee rights through effective employment litigation.
California Employment Law Issues We Handle
At Hershey Law, our employment lawyers specialize in assisting all employees throughout California, including federal employees. If you’ve been fired unfairly, harassed, bullied, underpaid, or pressured into signing a severance agreement, we can help. From negotiating executive compensation packages to contesting unfair severance terms, we cover a wide range of employment issues in your best interests. We handle:
Workplace Discrimination
Workplace discrimination can impact hiring, pay, promotions, and termination decisions based on protected characteristics like race, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation. Hershey Law represents California employees facing unfair treatment, using strong state laws like FEHA to pursue accountability and compensation. If you believe you’ve been treated differently at work, our team can help you understand your rights and next steps.
Workplace Harassment
Harassment in the workplace is one of the most insidious forms of workplace violence. It takes many forms, including verbal abuse such as name-calling, sexual innuendo, threats, intimidation, stalking, and even physical assault. While it may seem like small things at first, persistent and repeated behavior over time creates an intimidating environment that affects the health and safety of both the employee and those around them. Unlawful harassment is prohibited under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). FEHA makes it unlawful to harass an employee based on perceived characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, political belief, and so on, or association with groups having certain traits or promoting certain views. If you have experienced any type of harassment at work, we can help you get justice. Please speak with one of our Los Angeles employment attorneys to file an employment law claim.
Wrongful Termination
Employment relationships are often terminable at will. This means that either party can end employment without notice or cause. Wrongful termination lawsuits are difficult to prove because of this “at will” doctrine. However, you may be able to recover damages if you can show that your employer violated a specific California statute governing the conditions of employment. These statutes do not allow employers to terminate employees without good reason. If you were fired for complaining about poor working conditions, refusing to commit misconduct, or expressing opposition to unlawful conduct, you might have grounds for a wrongful termination claim. We can investigate the circumstances surrounding your discharge to determine whether you have a case.
Whistleblower Retaliation
Employees who report violations of law to their superiors may find themselves facing retaliation. A whistleblower is essentially a corporate hero. They take risks by reporting wrongdoing. Unfortunately, whistleblowers might face employers who use retaliatory measures against them, including firing, demotion, suspension, denial of benefits, and other punishments. California’s Whistleblower Protection Law protects whistleblowers who report wrongdoing in their workplaces. Under this law, anyone who reports suspected criminal activity to authorities has immunity from prosecution. Similarly, workers who speak out against unsafe conditions or violations of labor laws have protections under the law. This includes employees who refuse to perform illegal activities such as falsifying records or stealing company property. We can help protect your rights by investigating allegations of illegal activity and getting you compensation for retaliation. Our team has extensive experience helping whistleblowers bring cases before administrative agencies. Call our Los Angeles employment lawyers or contact us online to learn more about how we can assist you with employment law cases.
Workplace Retaliation
When employees protest harassment or discrimination, they run the risk of retaliation. Employers might retaliate against employees for making complaints, supporting investigations, filing claims, suing, organizing unions, or engaging in other protected activities under anti-discrimination laws. Retaliation can cause economic harm to victims and affects the whole work environment by driving down morale and undermining worker productivity. Retaliation can occur in the following ways:
Harassing employees
Denying benefits and rights
Threatening job loss
Demoting, suspending, or firing employees
Impeding performance evaluations or raises
Giving negative reviews to prospective employers
Retaliation is illegal under federal anti-discrimination laws and California state law. The California Labor Code protects employees who are engaged in protected activities under anti-discrimination laws and/or other laws protecting individual rights from retaliatory actions by their employers. Contact us today if you believe your company has retaliated against you for protesting discriminatory treatment.
Severance Agreement Review
At Hershey Law, we know that what you sign today can shape your career, finances, and opportunities for years to come. That’s why our California employment lawyers carefully review and negotiate severance agreements before you accept them—making sure the terms protect you, not just your employer.
A severance agreement, also called a separation agreement, often comes at a time of uncertainty. In exchange for a lump sum payment or extended benefits, you may be asked to give up the right to take legal action against your former employer. While these agreements can provide valuable financial support, they are often drafted to serve the company’s best interests. Without experienced legal review, you could unknowingly sign away important rights.
We focus on:
Identifying Hidden Risks – We read between the lines, uncovering clauses that could limit your future job prospects, restrict your earnings, or waive potential legal claims like discrimination or wrongful termination.
Challenging Unfair Restrictions – Overly broad non-compete or confidentiality clauses can derail your career. We push back on terms that go beyond what is reasonable under California law.
Maximizing Your Package – Our attorneys negotiate for higher severance pay, extended health coverage, retirement benefits, and paid time off payouts—ensuring your exit is as financially secure as possible.
Leveraging Legal Claims – If your termination raises red flags for wrongful termination, retaliation, or discrimination, we strategically use that leverage to strengthen your negotiating position.
Drafting Counterproposals – We propose fair, balanced revisions so you walk away with an agreement that aligns with your needs and long-term goals.
Whether you’re a healthcare worker, tech employee, public sector staff member, or professional in another industry, our legal team tailors our approach to your situation. We help you understand every term, anticipate the real-world impact, and negotiate from a position of strength.
Before you sign anything, have Hershey Law in your corner. We can review your severance package, explain your rights, and fight for terms that truly protect your future.
California Layoff Laws
Layoffs in California are governed by strict laws, including the WARN Act, which requires advance notice and protects employees from unfair workforce reductions. Hershey Law helps employees understand their rights, evaluate potential violations, and pursue compensation when employers fail to follow state or federal requirements. If you were laid off without proper notice or for unlawful reasons, our team can help you take the next steps.
Wage & Hour Claims
Wage theft occurs when an employer fails to properly compensate employees for their labor. These practices deprive workers of fair compensation and jeopardize the livelihood of entire families. Wage and hour violations also undermine the integrity of the workplace by creating an environment that tolerates unfairness and dishonesty. Some of the most common wage and hour laws violations:
Paying hourly workers less than minimum wage
Failing to pay overtime wages
Misclassifying exempt employees as non-exempt employees
Restricting employee access to breaks or meal periods
Not accurately tracking time spent on work-related activities
Not paying wages due upon separation from employment
Misclassifying workers as independent contractors
In California, wage and hour rules are governed by the Fair Labor Standards Act and California Labor Code. If your employer is taking advantage of you, a Los Angeles employment lawyer from Hershey Law can help with filing and pursuing wage and hour claims.
Common Healthcare Employment Law Violations
Our clients work in various industries, including healthcare, technology, retail, finance, education, and more, often at companies with 100 or more employees and unions with collective bargaining agreements. We’re here to represent employees that want straightforward answers about your legal options.
Industry & Role-Specific Expertise
We tailor our approach to the unique challenges of different professions and sectors.
Healthcare Workers
Nurses, doctors, administrators—protected under Labor Codes 1102.5 and 1278.5 for reporting patient-safety issues.
Tech Industry Employees
From startups to big-tech firms and labor unions —gender bias, disability accommodations, wrongful layoffs, and WARN Act claims.
Public Sector & Education Employees
Teachers, city workers, government staff—whistleblower claims under the California Whistleblower Protection Act, special education law, and government layoffs.
Remote Worker Rights
Working from home? We address unique issues around cross-jurisdictional laws, equipment reimbursement, and telecommuting policies.
Blue Collar Workers
From warehouse crews to construction teams, blue collar employees often face wage theft, denied overtime, and unsafe conditions. We fight for your right to fair pay and workplace safety—and protect you from retaliation when you speak up.
Our California Service Areas
We are committed to serving employees across California:
Los Angeles
As the entertainment and tech epicenter, LA employees face unique challenges—from wage disputes on studio sets to harassment in fast-paced startups. Our Los Angeles team can navigate complex local labor ordinances and industry standards to protect your rights.
Orange County
Home to healthcare networks, finance firms, and hospitality businesses, Orange County workers can rely on us for strong advocacy, from unpaid overtime claims in Newport Beach to discrimination suits in Irvine. We understand county-specific labor codes, regulations, and employer practices.
Santa Monica
In this coastal hub of media and creative services, freelancers and staff alike confront misclassification and break-time violations. We help Santa Monica employees enforce wage‐and‐hour laws and challenge unfair contractor agreements. We can also help identify any issues with your employment contracts versus an independent contractor agreements.
Beverly Hills
From luxury retail to boutique medical practices, Beverly Hills workers deserve the same legal protections as any corporate employee. We can represent you in high-stakes severance negotiations or discrimination claims, preserving your reputation and career.
Burbank
As a hub for animation studios and entertainment production, Burbank employees frequently encounter complex contract issues and overtime disputes. Our Burbank lawyers can review your agreements and pursue every hour of unpaid work.
Riverside
Inland Empire professionals from manufacturing to education rely on our Riverside office for guidance on leaves of absence, workplace safety complaints, and claims of retaliation. We know how regional practices can affect your case.
San Bernardino
Workers in logistics, government, and healthcare turn to us in San Bernardino for straightforward advice on wrongful termination, break violations, and whistleblower protections. We can file claims under local and state statutes to secure relief.
Ventura County
From agriculture to small-business offices, Ventura County employees face wage disputes and harassment issues that demand local insight. Our team can handle everything from meal-break claims in Oxnard to retaliation actions in Ventura.
Why Choose Our California Employment Attorneys
Since 2017, Hershey Law has worked only with employees, adhering to state and federal laws — not employers — and we’re ready to take legal action when negotiations fail. Our trial team is prepared to advocate for you in court whenever settlement talks break down, always acting in your best interests.
You’ll get:
- Direct communication with your attorney from the start
- A secure portal to track documents and case progress
- A legal team that manages everything — from intake to resolution
- Clear, honest updates without the legal jargon
- Comprehensive support on complex issues like executive compensation and collective bargaining
Ready to Start?
Deadlines under California law can come fast. Don’t wait.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does an employment attorney do in California?
They assist employees with claims related to wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment, and unpaid wages.
Can I sue my employer for retaliation in California?
Yes. If you were punished after asserting your rights, you may have a case.
How much time do I have to file an employment law claim?
Deadlines vary by case. Some are as short as 180 days. Talk to an attorney as soon as possible.
What are California's layoff laws for employees?
Large layoffs may require advance notice under the WARN Act and comply with federal laws. You may be eligible for protections or severance benefits.
Do I need a lawyer to review a severance agreement?
Yes. An attorney can help negotiate better terms and flag unfair clauses.