Know Your Rights · For California employees
Know your rights
at work in California
Short, plain-English cards on California employee rights. Each card says what the law requires, what you would generally need to show, and what to do now. Start with the guide that fits your situation.
General information about California law, not legal advice. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Guide I15 cardsIs it illegal?Discrimination, harassment, retaliation, whistleblowing, and deadlines.
- FEHA in 30 seconds
- Does the law cover my job?
- Fired, passed over, or paid less because of who you are
- Paid less than a coworker doing similar work?
- Up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave
- What CFRA leave covers
- How to ask for leave
- You get your job back
- You can see your personnel file
- You can get your pay records and anything you signed
- Save, don't take, and never delete
- Think twice before secretly recording
- When your last paycheck is due
- A late final paycheck can cost the employer
- Don't sign on the spot
- What signing a release really means
What the law says
Each card opens with the rule in plain words, and lists the statute or jury instruction it comes from.
What you would need to show
Where it helps, a short list of what a claim generally requires.
What to do now
One concrete step you can take today to protect yourself.
Have a specific question?61 short answers to the questions California employees ask most.
Search the FAQ