San Francisco Employment Law Blog

Most people in the Bay Area can likely recall their first job. Most remember the sense of pride and excitement that came from entering the workforce and beginning to learn to make their own living. One field that has become a magnet for teen workers is the fast food industry, specifically McDonald's, which is one of the largest chain restaurants in the world. A recent survey estimates that one in eight Americans has worked at a McDonald's at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, the industry is also prone to incidents of wage and hour violations.

While many agree that a part-time job can be a rewarding way for teens to learn the ropes in the workforce, there are strict laws in place to protect minors from being overworked and taken advantage of. During the teen years, employment is meant to be supplemental, as children must also have time to complete their education. The Fair Labor Standards Act outlines the hours teens can work, which vary depending on whether school is in session. 

Bay Area residents know all too well the stress that can come from being unable to work. When employees find themselves facing a serious medical situation, they often rely on a note from a doctor to explain to their employer that they may be unable to perform their job duties for some time. In most cases, employers have policies in place to protect workers from losing their jobs, so that they may recover from what ails them and return to work. Unfortunately, sometimes employers attempt to circumvent employee rights, and find themselves accused of wrongful termination. 

Recently, railroad giant CSX has become embroiled in a wrongful termination suit that now includes over 60 workers who claim their employer has violated their rights. The employees claim that after seeking medical attention for various conditions, they were given notes by doctors to prove that they could not perform their job duties for a period of time. Rather than honor these notes, CSX accused employees of committing fraud and exaggerating or falsifying medical conditions to avoid working. 

Many people in the Bay Area are familiar with the car service Uber, used by thousands of riders daily. Uber provides vehicle owners with a connection to people willing to pay for transportation in their local area. While Uber does screen and train drivers, the company recently found itself with a lengthy list of sexual harassment claims stemming from both customers and employees. 

Uber's previous policies required sexual harassment victims to sign confidentiality agreements, forcing them to settle their cases privately. The change in policy follows a viral campaign in which a former employee blasted Uber for attempting to cover up sexual harassment and mistreatment in the workplace. The female engineer accused the company of attempting to retaliate with bullying to silence the claims. 

For the past couple of years, Wells Fargo has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. The bank has admitted defrauding millions of customers by signing them up for accounts and auto insurance the customers did not ask for, costing them serious money and in some cases costing them their vehicle. The Federal Reserve has sanctioned the company for “widespread consumer abuses.”

The troubled California-based bank is now facing yet another multi-million-dollar penalty for breaking the law. As CNN Money reports, a federal judge has ruled in favor of Wells Fargo employees who sued over not being paid for break periods. The judge ordered Wells Fargo to pay $97.4 million in damages.