Author Archives: Christopher J. Canlas

As a working parent, the last thing you ever wanted to have to deal with was a work-related injury. By not being at work, you’re not bringing in an income. Without an income, you can’t provide for your…

When you started your new job, you immediately had concerns. The first day, a coworker commented on your figure. The second day, your boss winked at you, and you thought it was a little unusual. You’re attractive, but…

You’re new on the job, and it goes without saying that you expected to have some teasing from others as you learned the ropes. What you didn’t expect was for coworkers to tease you on a more personal…

There are times when you may not be working but still have to be paid. Under federal law, your employer may be required to pay you for your time if you are on-call, traveling for business or even sleeping while…

If you work for a company as an independent contractor, you may not have a right to workers’ compensation. That doesn’t mean you can go without coverage of any kind, though, because if you do and get hurt,…

Depending on your profession, it’s possible that you could suffer a low back injury at some point. For example, this is a big concern among people who lift heavy items, day in and day out. When it comes…

You hope that you never suffer an injury on the job, but you realize that this could happen even if you are as careful as possible. If you find yourself in this position, thankfully, you may look into…

When some people talk about Social Security Disability (SSD), they act like it comes out of their own pockets each time someone receives it. The truth is that SSD is an insurance coverage you have to work to…

Discrimination can happen anywhere, from moments when you’re walking down the street to times when you don’t receive good service at a restaurant. Discrimination shouldn’t happen, but if it does, it’s important to take steps to eliminate it…

imagine not being paid what your coworker makes just because you’re female and he’s male. You’d be insulted, frustrated and upset. You’d also have the right to pursue a lawsuit against the company responsible for the ill treatment…

Discrimination violates your civil rights in California. The Ralph Civil Rights Act states that it is illegal for anyone to be violent toward or to threaten to be violent toward a person because of his or her national…

If you’ve come to California to work as an immigrant, then you know you occasionally face some hardships. You may struggle with an employer who is not treating you well or be concerned that you’re not being paid…

Imagine wanting to build up your business. You need to gain investors, but some of the investors only want to invest in your company if you’re willing to give them a little something on the side. As a…

Pneumoconiosis is a disease caused by breathing in small dust particles from mineral deposits. The risk of developing this disease is most common among those who work with mineral dusts in high concentrations, like miners. Not using the…

When you got the call that your spouse was killed, you knew that workers’ compensation would kick in. For you, that didn’t seem like enough. You knew that the accident was a result of negligence, and you want…

The Social Security Administration (SSA) wants to make sure that your application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is correct and that decisions are made based on factual information. As such, the SSA takes time to carefully consider what…

A youth pastor has sued the Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church over sexual harassment. She claims that the new pastor’s behavior was inappropriate, which forced her to resign. The Aug. 8 news report discussed the formed associate pastor’s…

You work hard at your job, and you want to know that you’re going to be paid in a timely manner. Lately, your check hasn’t been coming on its typical day. You’re worried that your employer might be…

When you file a claim for workers’ compensation benefits, you hope to receive your first payment in the near future. While this may happen, you always have to concern yourself with a denial. If your claim for workers’…

There is no doubt that the use of construction tools can speed up the completion of a task, while also ensuring accuracy. There is also no doubt that the improper use of construction tools can result in serious…

Any employee in the workforce should be aware of the Title VII protections provided by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII is there to prohibit employers from discriminating against those who have different backgrounds. For example,…

Constructive dismissal is a special type of wrongful termination claim. It is also known as a constructive discharge. This happens when the employer makes working conditions so bad that the employee must quit. To file a claim for a…

Employers may never have thought of this before, but if an employee suffers a bug bite that leads to infection or illness while working, they could be held liable for that injury. For example, in California, Lyme disease does…

In California, there are laws that protect workers who work overtime. While there are some positions that are exempt from overtime laws and regulations, the majority of people working in the state are able to seek overtime if…

If you are a temporary worker in California, you are in a better position now than you were just a few years ago. Additionally, you enjoy more protections from workplace abuses than many of your counterparts in other…

If you are a migrant worker in California, you are doing back-breaking labor for very little money. But that is only one of the drawbacks to this career choice. For instance, are you aware that only 2 percent…

In an emergency, the last thing you have on your mind is which doctor you want to see. Most people just want to feel better, to stop bleeding or to get pain medications to help them feel normal.…

Sexual harassment can be a serious problem for an employer. With the age of the internet, using social media can help support recruiting new people to your business, but it can also turn a situation sour when harassment is involved.…

Age discrimination is a real problem in America’s workforce. You may spend all your time working for a company for decades, but when you reach a certain age, there is a possibility that someone may believe your age…

Workplace discrimination has no place in the culture of a workplace. It hinders performance and places stress on individuals who do not deserve it. It can hurt a person’s chance of moving up in business or may prevent…

The workers’ compensation system is supposed to be there to help those who are hurt on the job. The problem is that some people are not given all the benefits they deserve as easily as they should receive…

There are dozens of injuries you could suffer from on the job, and many happen due to accidents or sudden traumatic events. Others are dangerous because they’re lurking beneath the surface. Your organs or bones may be suffering…

California Labor Law Section 1102.5 defines a whistleblower as an employee who witnesses and reports suspected cases of illicit activity by their employer. There are a number of different types of violations that might be deemed illegal that…

If you’ve been terminated from your position at your job, it’s vital that you understand if it was a legal termination. If you were wrongfully terminated for any reason, you actually have a legal case against your employer.…

When you file your claim for disability benefits in the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office, the purpose of your initial interview is just to determine if you meet the non-medical requirements of disability. The Social Security claims…

A complaint that was formally filed with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing on May 18, 2017 accuses Uber of having fired him after he approached the company’s human resources (HR) department to question their handling…

Getting hurt on the job can have a number of unexpected results. You may struggle with the downtime as you recover. You may experience increased tensions with other family members because of your constant presence in the home.…

You go to work every day in the pursuit of a career that will support you and give you the income you need to do the things you love. As an employee, there are many rules and regulations…

You count on your job to survive. You need to pay your bills and get the things you need. Without your job, you can’t do that. Now, you have a problem because you either lost your job or…

Under the U.S. federal insurance program, individuals can receive compensation if they are unable to work because of a disability. However, certain requirements must be met before applicants can obtain compensation. The inability to perform “substantial gainful activity”…

The last blog post discussed whether employees in the state of California injured during rest periods or lunch breaks were covered under workers’ compensation laws and entitled to benefits. Generally speaking—the answer is yes. Rest periods are part…

Something troubling happened in California in 2015. In one year, 388 workers were killed at work. This means that an average of just over one person left for a work shift and didn’t come home each day of…

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 protects people with physical and mental disabilities throughout all phases of the employment process — from recruitment, to hiring, to pay and opportunities on the job, to firing. However, as many…

In the state of California, workers are entitled to benefits, including medical expenses and lost wages, if they are injured while working. To many individuals, this seems pretty straightforward—something that should not cause much contention or dispute. Unfortunately, it…

At a certain point in an injured workers’ “road to recovery” following an injury, he or she will reach a stationary point of improvement. Hopefully, by this time, the worker has achieved a complete recovery, but in some…

Getting let go from the workplace is hurtful, and it’s natural to feel like an employer did you a disservice if you are laid off or fired. Many people talk about wrongful termination within the few days following…

In an ongoing case between a former principal and a California school district, new allegations have been added to the suit after a document indicated that the principal had been terminated. The case originated from claims about pregnancy…

Every state handles workers’ compensation a little differently, but most of us can understand the basic nature of this type of compensation. If you get injured while on the job, workers’ compensation may cover your medical expenses and help cover…

Most employees want to be treated fairly and with dignity in the workplace, and most employers try to create working environments that accommodate such goals. Unfortunately, not all employers pay attention to such details, and even in a…

California has a booming marijuana industry generating billions of dollars in revenue. An important part of the maturation process looms in the next year or two, as the industry will be transformed by regulation into a wholly legitimate…