Author Archives: Christopher J. Canlas

wage laws help ensure that hard-working employees receive fair compensation when their employers demand a significant amount of time from them. Typically, hourly workers can count on receiving 150% of their average hourly wage when they work more…

Have you been involved in a workplace accident but are unsure of what to do? Informing your employer should be the first step you take but keep in mind that your worker’s compensation claim is hinged on legal…

The Social Security Administration has a very strict standard for disability benefits. If you want to collect disability benefits, you will need to show that your condition doesn’t just prevent you from performing your current job but all…

Workplace racism is sometimes obvious. There are companies that seem to make hiring and promotion decisions based on race because they only employ people of one race or refused to promote people from certain backgrounds. However, overt racism…

Gender identity has evolved into a controversial topic in employment law. Many people struggle to assert their preferred gender in the work environment. For example, a person born a female but identifying as a male can have a…

Companies across California have to pay for workers’ compensation insurance to protect themselves from liability and their employees from major financial losses. When a worker gets hurt, workers’ compensation can pay for their medical treatment and help cover…

Gender discrimination is, unfortunately, an ongoing problem in the country. Some companies continue to discriminate against women and face serious repercussions as a result. On Nov. 2, an updated report about Activision Blizzard indicated that the company’s first…

There are many jobs in which it’s commonplace for workers to use or be surrounded by heavy machinery. This often happens in a warehouse, on a construction site, near a harbor, at a truck depot and in manufacturing plants. One of the…

No employee should ever have to deal with discrimination in the workplace. It’s up to employers to ensure that they have policies in place that protect workers from this type of behavior. The policies have to make it…

People often find the application process for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits overwhelming. Some people rush through because the process makes them nervous. Others assume that if they provide diagnostic information they don’t have to go into…

California’s minimum wage laws are among the most advantageous in the country. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the minimum wage will be $15.00 per hour for most people who work for an employer with at least 26 employees and…

Racism and racial discrimination have been a part of American society for so long that people often struggle to identify racism in the workplace if it doesn’t involve racial slurs or overt hatred. Racism isn’t just one person…

If you deal with regular headaches, then you know how serious they can be. You may miss work because you can’t come out of a dark room or stand the sound of people around you. Migraines, a specific…

Employers have a lot of options at their disposal for determining whether an employee is a good fit for their company or not. While they can use background checks and certain testing, most employers can’t use a polygraph…

Activision Blizzard, Inc. is facing a lawsuit accusing it of allowing a “frat boy” culture and promoting sexism in the gaming industry. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica. The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing, or DFEH,…

In the United States, there are laws that prevent employers from discriminating against their employees or applicants for positions at their companies.Gender discrimination also known as sexual discrimination, is a violation of an applicant or worker’s rights. when…

A person’s mistakes shouldn’t have to follow them for the rest of their life. That includes a criminal conviction. People who have served their time or paid whatever penalties they were given and are now law-abiding Californians should…

People talk about employee rights often, but have you ever wondered what state law says about these rights? We have found that some workers in Southern California have a poor understanding of how they can and cannot be…

California is an at-will state for employment. Although companies and individuals sometimes execute contracts with one another, state law allows for companies or workers to terminate employment arrangements for any reason or no reason at all. Your at-will…

Here in Cerritos and the rest of Southern California, the construction industry is booming — but it’s hard, dangerous work that can also lead to permanent injuries and disabilities. Exactly what dangers you may face on the job…

If you’re reading this, then there’s a strong likelihood that you’ve been the victim of some kind of crime, like domestic violence. You likely understand that the best course of action to take once something as traumatic as…

If you’ve applied for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits or are currently receiving them, then you may have been asked to undergo a psychological evaluation to determine if you qualify or should continue receiving benefits. While you may…

If you are disabled, you may be able to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance, also known as SSDI. SSDI benefits provide you with a monthly income, so you can focus on your health and live comfortably while…

The answer to the above question is yes. Such discrimination is definitely illegal. There are laws that protect people against being discriminated against for a variety of reasons in the workplace in Southern California, as well as throughout…

Older employees may feel like ageism is the last acceptable prejudice left in the workplace. People who know better than to mock or denigrate someone because of their race, religion, sexual orientation or disability may have no problem…

If you get hurt while you’re working, one of the first things you need to do is to report that injury to your employer. Your employer then has only a short amount of time to report your claim…

The National Trial Lawyers is pleased to announce that Christopher Canlas of Canlas Law Group, APLC in Cerritos has been selected for inclusion into its Top 100 and Top 25 Workers’ Compensation Trial Lawyers in California, an honor given to only a select group of…

Foodservice work involves a number of potential hazards. Whether you’re a server, a busser, the dishwasher or a cook, your job has numerous hazards that can lead to serious injuries. From handling knives and dealing with open flame…

One of your superiors quits at work. You hope to get promoted, but your boss quickly promotes another employee. Are you actually being discriminated against? This can be a problem when there is no consideration for the position.…

All employees in the United States are protected by certain laws. However, some employees suffer because they are mistreated by their employers, and they are unaware of their rights. This is why it is so important that you…

In 1995, California voters voted against Proposition 209. Had voters passed that legislation, it would have resulted in a state constitutional amendment allowing for affirmative action policies to be instituted in the public contracting, education and employment sectors throughout the…

While it may be exhausting to think about, most individuals look forward to those busy times on the job in which they may be asked to work more than 40 hours in a week. Workers are often excited…

Stormy weather poses a seriousthreat to outdoor workers Did you know that lightning kills an average of 54 people every year? Any time you see a storm in the distance, there’s a chance that you could be struck,…

You’ve worked at the local grocer for a long time, but over time you’ve noticed a change in how much you can work without pain. You constantly have to worry about weakness and strain in your neck and…

Data compiled by the Pain Relief Institute (PRI) shows that as many as 60-75% of workplace injuries that are reported each year are repetitive stress injuries. Those same statistics show that one in eight workers have this type of…

Unfortunately, workplace discrimination is something that is not likely to ever disappear entirely. It has always been an issue in the United States and even the laws that make it illegal have not eradicated it. You can still…

A 47-year-old Long Beach man broke down on the stand as he testified at a wrongful termination trial against his former employer, the United Parcel Service (UPS), last week. The man’s bosses previously argued that the reason that…

If you have been injured while at work in California, it is likely that you will have the right to file for workers’ compensation. This is true regardless of whether you are a United States citizen. In the…

A USA Today investigation last year revealed that 5,147 workers died accidentally on the job in 2017. One of the leading causes of those deaths is accidental drug overdoses. This isn’t the only reason for worker deaths though. National Safety…

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows that an estimated 1 million individuals, or 20% of all injured or ill workers, hurt their backs while working each year. These injuries cause these employees to miss nearly just…

There are both federal and state laws on the books that protect whistleblowers when they come forward and report impropriety. California Labor Code Sections 1102.5 and 1106 are the two primary statutes that detail who’s protected by state whistleblower…

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects individuals from being discriminated against based on their past, current or perceived association with a disability. This federal law applies to almost any employer that has 15 or more employees. Any…

In early 2020, officials put out a report on workplace incidents and fatalities, looking at the data for 2018. It’s the most recent report on the books, and it shows a concerning trend: Workplace deaths are increasing. While…

All workers in the United States are legally protected from being discriminated against based on a number of characteristics in the workplace. These protected characteristics include gender, disability, race, age and national origin. Those who were not born…

When your employer asks you to do a job that is clearly very dangerous, do you feel trapped? Do you have to do it? If you refuse, will you get fired? How can you protect yourself? Maybe they…

Learning that an application for benefits has been denied can be one of the most demoralizing experiences possible. You may have been feeling that your livelihood depends on the gaining of these benefits. Therefore, receiving the news that…

Losing a job can be one of the most difficult situations to deal with in life. You may have invested years of time and effort into your work and felt loyal to the company and its mission. Therefore,…

If you’ve ever worked for Amazon, then you know that a warehouse job can be dangerous. There are heavy objects to lift and you may end up getting hurt. Did you know that the Amazon warehouse in Sacramento…

Professionals in the chemical industry know that many chemicals mix together to make toxic fumes or hazardous waste; and chemical burns can lead to serious problems that require immediate medical care. Chemical burns can occur in almost any work environment…

Injuries of all natures can result in a successful workers’ compensation claim if they took place at work. Minor injuries such as neck pain from sitting at a desk as well as severe injuries such as those acquired…