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.
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...
By Matt Ruggles, California Employment Lawyer After more than 30 years of litigating employment law cases across California, I can now recognize certain fact patterns that differentiate a strong employment lawsuit from a weak one. I’ve represented employees (and...
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...
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...
Sexual harassment in the workplace is wrong—plain and simple. Yet despite formal policies and growing awareness, many employees still struggle with how to respond to being sexually harassed when it happens to them. This is especially true when the misconduct comes...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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