Unlock a wealth of knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of California’s employment law landscape. Our blog is a treasure trove of insightful posts authored by Matt Ruggles, exploring the latest trends, legal updates, and practical advice.
I wrote this blog to explain the difference between workplace bullying vs. workplace harassment in California, why bullying usually is not legally actionable, and what employees can do in both situations. I'm Matt Ruggles, and I have been practicing employment law in...
If you are being sexually harassed at work, it is not enough to know that what is happening is wrong. You need to know how to document and prove sexual harassment at work in California so that your case can stand up to scrutiny. The difference between having a valid...
If you’re reporting sexual harassment in California, it’s critical to understand how that the way you report it can affect your case. Many employees think filing an internal complaint is simple i.e. just tell HR what happened and expect the company to handle it. In...
Workplace events and sexual harassment in California are more closely connected than many employees realize. Holiday parties, off-site retreats, conferences, client dinners, and business travel are supposed to be about team-building, networking, and maybe even a...
I’m Matt Ruggles. I’ve been practicing employment law in California for over 30 years, and I’ve helped executives negotiate every kind of severance you can imagine. One of the smartest and most overlooked strategies is what I call a negotiated exit, sometimes referred...
You might be wondering how to negotiate an executive severance package from the perspective an an experienced California employment lawyer. The truth is, success comes down to strategy, timing, and knowing where the leverage lies. I’m Matt Ruggles, and I’ve been...
If you are dealing with disability discrimination in California, you don’t just have to accept it. State law gives employees strong protections. A recent case, Bronshteyn v. Department of Consumer Affairs, shows how powerful those protections can be and why employees...
What if HR ignores your sexual harassment complaint in California? Sometimes employees take the right step and report harassment, only to have HR dismiss it. HR may downplay what happened. HR may suggest you’re exaggerating. Or HR may act like it’s not their...
Employees often ask me: “Can I sue my employer for unpaid wages while I’m still working there?” The short answer is yes, you can file an unpaid wages claim in California even if you’re still employed. But the smarter question is whether you should, and how to do it...
One of the most frustrating experiences an employee can face is making the effort to raise a workplace complaint only to have Human Resources go silent. When HR ignores your complaint in California, the silence creates fear and anxiety. You’ve mustered the courage to...
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