California Employment Law Blog
Denied Medical Leave? What California Employees Can Learn from Head v. Costco
If you’re searching for a real-world disability discrimination case study, look no further than Head v. Costco Wholesale Corp. One former Costco employee was denied medical leave after exhausting his FMLA and CFRA time while caring for his wife with cancer and...
How Do I Collect Unpaid Wages from Independent Contractor Misclassification?
Some California employers think they’ve found a clever way to skip out on paying wages, overtime, and payroll taxes: they use what is known as "independent contractor misclassification" i.e. misclassify workers as independent contractors (ICs) instead of employees....
How to Demand Unpaid Wages Like an Employment Lawyer
Most employees encounter the situation where the employer hasn’t paid all of the employee’s earned wages and the employee is left wondering how to demand unpaid wages. It might be unpaid overtime, a missing commission, an unexplained commission chargeback, or a bonus...
Am I Misclassified as an Independent Contractor in California?
If your employer classifies you as an independent contractor, but you're doing the same work as the company’s employees, you're probably wondering: Am I really an independent contractor, or am I being misclassified? I'm Matt Ruggles, and I’ve spent more than 30 years...
Fastest Ways to Recover Unpaid Wages in California (Ranked Worst to Best)
If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance your employer owes you money and you need it now. Understanding the fastest ways to recover unpaid wages can make the difference between getting paid in days, months, or years and avoiding the costly mistakes that delay or...
Examples of Workplace Harassment in California
Many California employees who believe they’re the victim of workplace harassment are surprised to learn that what they’re dealing with, while aggravating or even offensive, may not qualify as illegal harassment under California law. That’s because not all bad behavior...
Workplace Discrimination in California? All Employees Have Equal Rights
Workplace discrimination law in California isn’t a popularity contest, and the United States Supreme Court just made that point loud and clear. In Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, a unanimous Court ruled that employees can’t be forced to meet a higher legal...
Workplace Harassment in California’s Entertainment Industry
Workplace harassment in California’s entertainment industry is a real problem and it’s just as illegal as harassment in any other workplace. Whether you’re on a film set, in a recording studio, or working behind the scenes, the law is clear: the entertainment industry...
Recovering Unpaid Commissions in California: $1M Case Study
Recovering unpaid commissions is a legal right under California law, but most employees don’t know where to start. When employers refuse to pay commissions that have already been earned, it’s not a misunderstanding. It’s wage theft. Matt Ruggles, a California...
Indirect Sexual Harassment Is Illegal in California
If you’re being sexually harassed at work, it’s easy to wonder if what you’re experiencing is “bad enough” to take action. Maybe your boss isn’t the one harassing you. Maybe it’s a coworker who makes constant inappropriate comments or a manager who pressures you to...
How Do I Ask for Unpaid Wages Without Getting Fired?
If your employer isn’t paying you correctly, whether it’s your hourly wages, overtime, commissions, bonuses, split shift premiums, or meal and rest break premiums, you may be wondering how to demand your unpaid wages without getting fired. Matt Ruggles is an...
7 Employee Mistakes That Ruin Severance Negotiations
Most California employees facing a severance agreement have no idea what to do next. Is it negotiable? How much is fair? How aggressive should you be? In that confusion, many fall into employee severance negotiation mistakes right away and those errors destroy...
5 Most Common Wage Violations in California
Matt Ruggles is a California employment attorney with over 30 years of employment litigation experience who has represented employees since 2016, including in unpaid wage claims. Over the course of his career, he has handled every type of wage dispute—from unpaid...
When Does Workplace Harassment Become Illegal in California?
Matt Ruggles is a California employment attorney with over 30 years of experience litigating workplace harassment cases. Matt has litigated claims under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) in courts and before administrative agencies and helped workers assert...
TWELVE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE A STRONG EMPLOYMENT LAWSUIT IN CALIFORNIA
By Matt Ruggles, California Employment Lawyer What makes a strong employment lawsuit in California? After more than 30 years litigating employment cases, I’ve seen the patterns that separate strong claims from weak ones. I’ve represented employees and employers...
How Do I Resolve a Missed Meal Period Dispute in California?
Missed meal period disputes are widespread across California workplaces. Many employers not only fail to properly compensate employees when a meal period is missed, but also create a workplace culture where missed, late, or interrupted meal periods become routine. A...
Can My Employer Force Me to Waive My Meal Period in California?
Many California employees wonder, “can my employer force me to waive my meal period?” A recent decision by the California Court of Appeal—Bradsbery v. Vicar Operating, Inc. (2025)—tackles this very question and provides important guidance. The court held that...
How Should I Respond to Sexual Harassment in California?
Sexual harassment in the workplace is wrong, plain and simple. Yet despite policies and growing awareness, many employees still struggle with how to respond to sexual harassment in California when it happens to them. The problem is especially common when the...
How Do I Resolve a Misclassification Dispute in California?
To resolve a misclassification dispute in California, it’s essential to first understand what employee misclassification is and how the law applies to your situation. Misclassification happens when an employer unlawfully labels a worker as “exempt” from overtime. This...
Should I File a Sexual Harassment Lawsuit While Still Employed?
Considering a sexual harassment lawsuit while still employed can feel overwhelming—but careful documentation is one of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself. Experiencing harassment at work is difficult enough, and when you're unsure whether to...
How to Use Leverage in Severance Negotiation
When a California employee is presented with a severance agreement, understanding how to use leverage in severance negotiation is essential to improving the outcome. These agreements often feel like take-it-or-leave-it offers—decided without any input from the...
Mishandled Sexual Harassment Claims: Case Study in California
Sexual harassment and retaliation remain serious issues in the California workplace. Employees who face such treatment often turn to the courts to seek accountability and justice. However, mishandled sexual harassment claims can leave employees without recourse and...
How Do I Resolve an Unpaid Wages Dispute in California?
If you believe your employer has failed to pay you all wages owed—including unpaid regular hours, overtime, or double time—California law provides strong protections and a clear legal framework for you to resolve an unpaid wages dispute and recover money owed to you...
Performance Improvement Plan Insights: Tips from a Lawyer
A Performance Improvement Plan—commonly referred to as a PIP—has become a standard tool in modern workplace management. While once associated primarily with hourly or lower-level employees, PIPs are now frequently used across a wide range of professions, including...
How Do I Resolve a Commission Dispute in California?
If you work in sales or any role where commissions make up part of your compensation, it’s essential to understand your rights under California law. A commission dispute over unpaid or charged back commissions is common—and often arises when employers fail to follow...
What Is a Compensation Plan in California?
If you receive commissions, bonuses, or other variable pay, your employer may have referred you to your “compensation plan.” But what exactly is a compensation plan in California—and what happens if your employer doesn’t follow it? This blog explains what a...
What Is an Advanced Commission in California?
If your paycheck includes commissions, you may have heard your employer refer to certain payments as an “advance.” But what exactly is an advanced commission—and what happens if you don’t stay employed long enough to “earn” the “advanced” commission? This blog...
What Is a Commission Chargeback in California?
If you earn commissions in California, you may have heard the term “chargeback” or “clawback” —when an employer takes back a commission you’ve already been paid. But is that legal? And under what conditions can your employer reclaim money from your paycheck? This blog...
What Are Earned Wages in California?
If your employer hasn’t paid you everything you’re owed, you may be wondering what exactly counts as a “wage” and when that wage becomes “earned.” Under California law, wages include not just hourly pay and salaries—but also commissions, bonuses, and other forms of...
Is Being Fired After Filing a Complaint Considered Wrongful Termination?
Being fired after filing a complaint at work may be considered wrongful termination in the form of workplace retaliation and/or “whistleblowing,” but only if the complaint filed involves a legally protected issue under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act...